The global city as a legal concept.

摘要

This thesis reassess Gerald Frog's analysis of the 'city as a legal concept' for the global era. Where Frog highlights city powerlessness and the legal foundations of inequality between neighbouring municipalities, the importance of urban economies to global capitalism has engendered new sets of local and regional inequalities based on the predominance of advanced service industries. Analyzing Toronto's formation into a 'global city,' this thesis explores the legitimacy and efficacy of local law with reference to Toronto's internal diversity and emergence as a 'competitive city.' Two case studies ground this thesis' analysis: the ongoing reform of Toronto's municipal law, and the relationship between federal immigration policy and professional accreditation in Canada. Where the former problematizes legal reform efforts based on extraterritorial phenomena -- allowing Toronto to better compete in the global economy -- the latter highlights emerging normative inconsistencies within the law based on the growing complexity and diversity of urban societies.