Counter-urbanization or extended urbanization: theorizing lifestyle migration and small cities in the planetary urban

This article addresses the growing need to bridge migration studies and urban studies by examining the efficacy of the planetary urbanization framework in enhancing our understanding of how migration is intertwined with urbanization processes. Focusing on the case study of Dali, a small Chinese city that experiences urban transformations associated with the arrival of lifestyle migrants in the last two decades, this article investigates the relationship between lifestyle migration and urbanization through the lens of “extended urbanization,” a crucial process in the planetary urban. This article reveals that lifestyle migrants have contributed to what I refer to as “the double urbanization” of Dali, a complex phenomenon marked by interconnected urbanization processes. These processes unfold at two scales – local and national, through two paths, and involve multiple dimensions, which in turn sustain the continued influx of lifestyle migrants. Moreover, this article demonstrates the capacity of planetary urbanization to bring previously overlooked “off the map” cities into the forefront of urban research and discussion. Overall, this article underscores the remarkable role of lifestyle migration in urban theorization, advocating for a refined conceptualization of urban processes.