City of sojourners versus city of settlers: transnationalism, location and identity among Taiwanese professionals in London and Toronto

This paper explores the impact of location on transnational identities through an ethnographic case study of Taiwanese professionals in London and Toronto. I argue, first, that both groups use their transnational identities not just to bridge two cultures, but as a strategic resource for building connections with many different groups; second, that the expression of transnational identity is different in each local context, as it is framed through London's identity as a “global city of sojourners”, and Toronto's as a “global city of settlers”, and, finally, that this, combined with the strategic use of identity in each location, influences each group's transnational connections and affects their ability to construct networks.