Miami is an urban area that had long been referred to by its boosters as “the magic city." In the 1980s, however, more people have come to refer to this metropolitan area as "paradise lost."

In virtually all discussion and analysis of the changes that have affected the Miami area, immigration has invariably been given primary attention. This chapter explores the effects of immigration on the politics of metro- politan Miami. Our purpose is to analyze how increasing ethnic and so- cioeconomic heterogeneity, which patterns of immigration have created, poses special political and economic problems affecting the governance of the greater Miami area. These problems are analyzed with regard to (1) the area's changing demography, (2) the origin and structure of Dade County's unique two-tiered government, (3) patterns of participation, and (4) the resultant character of local government decision making.