Page 62 - IJPS-11-6

International Journal of
Population Studies Migration to non-metropolitan Canada

1.2.2. Less cosmopolitan (Garcia & Schmalzbauer, 2017). Furthermore, empirical

Cosmopolitanism has been of interest to philosophers studies that examine ethnic minorities’ experiences in
and social scientists who want to study the differences smaller cities tend to suggest that those individuals may
and identities in society (Wardle, 2015). Wardle (2015) experience being outsiders in culturally homogenous
discussed four perspectives to describe the construct communities (Caxaj & Gill, 2017; Tungohan, 2017).
of cosmopolitanism. According to Wardle (2015), When referring to the literature about smaller cities and
cosmopolitanism first “involves commitments to the world rural areas, the literature identifies that rural values are an
at large that transcend loyalty to nation, neighbors, and important aspect of rural identity (Banack, 2023). Smaller
locally shared conventions” (Wardle, 2015, p. 41). Second, cities and rural areas can be less cosmopolitan as they may
“cosmopolitanism describes an attitude of openness not necessarily have experience with immigration (Pottie-
to, tolerance toward, and a desire to comprehend the Sherman & Graham, 2021) or receptivity to difference
standpoints of others and their ways of being” (Wardle, (Wong et al., 2023). The demographic composition of
2015, p. 41). Third, “some cosmopolitan views rest on smaller cities was generalized to have a small proportion
a vision or expectation of historical progress toward a of ethnic diversity when compared to metropolitan
peaceful world community” (Wardle, 2015; p. 41), and areas (Garcia & Schmalzbauer, 2017; Pottie-Sherman &
fourth, “normative cosmopolitanism is that it does not rest Graham, 2021; Zhuang, 2023), which can pose challenges
with what is or might be the case, but instead it prescribes and opportunities for immigrant settlement. Some studies
what should be done” (Wardle, 2015, p. 41). Hence, the also suggest that communities can be reluctant to social
concept of cosmopolitanism is grounded in the principle and cultural change (Banack, 2023; Miraftab, 2016), which
of diversity and the acceptance of cultural differences in a challenges perspectives about cosmopolitanism (Wardle,
social context. 2015). Furthermore, smaller cities and rural areas tend to
be quieter or slower in the pace of life (Wilson-Forsberg,
Cosmopolitanism occurs at the micro- (individual), 2012), which can limit opportunities for conviviality of
meso- (between groups of people in space), and macro- social interaction compared to larger cities (Zhuang &
levels (e.g., institutional recognition of difference). Larger, Lok, 2023). This challenges prevailing conceptions of
multicultural cities, often in metropolitan areas, are often cosmopolitan cities as being culturally dynamic.
regarded as cosmopolitan, due to the composition of
ethnic diversity and acceptance or tolerance of cultural 1.2.3. Fewer amenities and services in the community
differences. The relationship between cosmopolitanism In the context of larger, metropolitan cities, particularly
and experiences in the city is associated with social in ethnoburbs (Li, 2009), immigrants have a social
interactions and encounters with differences in space (i.e., environment that is conducive to formal and informal
the meso-level) (Werbner, 2015). Cosmopolitanism may social relations and networks due to the availability of
also involve the openness of individuals (micro-level) in infrastructure such as ethnic retail sites (Zhuang & Chen,
accepting and tolerating differences in values and cultures 2017), place of worship and ethnic networks (Qadeer &
when encountering people from diverse backgrounds Agrawal, 2011), or government-funded social supports
through intercultural interaction in space (meso-level) (Kelly & Nguyen, 2023). Hence, available amenities and
(Valentine, 2008). Sandercock (1998) imagined cities of services play a role in immigrants’ integration into the
the 21 century to be “cosmopolis,” which she regarded community. Due to the population size of smaller cities,
st
as “cosmopolitan metropolises.that are characterized by non-metropolitan communities may have relatively fewer
significant cultural (racial, ethnic, and sexual) diversity” amenities and services than larger metropolitan cities
(Sandercock, 1998, p. 163). The idea of the cultural other is (Zhuang & Lok, 2023). Amenities can be conceived as
an important aspect to consider in cosmopolis (Sandercock, spaces and places in a community that provide a function
1998). The current literature about urban settlements is for its population (e.g., libraries, community centers,
broadly rich in discussing the implications and imperatives parks and recreation centers, retailing, and places of
of cosmopolitanism as an avenue and characteristic of the worship). Services can be regarded as formal support
acceptance and tolerance of ethnic and cultural differences from organizations and/or community actors, which
in the population, where cosmopolitanism tends to be include facets such as employment support, federally
associated with metropolitan cities (Burayidi, 2018). funded immigrant settlement and integration agencies,

Smaller cities and rural areas generally have less diversity social services and support, and access to healthcare
in the social composition of the demographics, as these providers. Studies of immigrant settlement in rural areas
contexts tend to be socially homogenous relative to cities suggest challenges such as inaccessibility to “culturally
with a history of migration of people from various countries appropriate” services (Patel et al., 2019). However, the

Volume 11 Issue 6 (2025) 56 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.6309