ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an exploratory comparative empirical research in France and Italy, examines whether it can detect the partial 'exit' of upper middle class both from their national society and from the cities in which they live. It explores the 'partial exit' hypothesis through the analysis of one particular dimension: the sociability of individuals belonging to the upper middle class groups in Paris and Milan. The Nomads, however once again with emphasis in the Milan case mix elements of geographical mobility, more international sociability with elements of strong rootedness such as living with their parents. The degree of local sociability with friends that our respondents exemplify leads us to question more extreme arguments about the 'end of urbanism', or the significance of hyper segregation. In this world, the issue of social capital and social networks is starkly opposed to the classical view of the local community, organized around family relations, and attachment to the rich world of voluntary associations.
