DIVERCITIES

"Neighbourhood interventions, and social and ethnic mix: the tackling of urban inequalities"

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The research aims to investigate whether, and how, in a Southern European context area-based programmes in deprived and ethnically diverse neighbourhoods effectively decrease socio-spatial inequalities at neighbourhood and city level; and whether more equal opportunities and access to resources have emerged, fostering the upward social mobility of the different social and ethnic groups. It will first develop a theoretical and conceptual framework for the analysis of the impacts of area-based and mixed community programmes from a redistributive perspective and within a multi-scalar thinking. Drawing on different European cases, it will intersect current international debates on social cohesion (e.g. urban inequality and segregation, local welfare system, and diversity), focusing on inequality of opportunities within the remit of social mobility and neighbourhood (de-)commodification. The multidimensional framework will then be applied to two neighbourhood case studies in Barcelona to assess the social and spatial effects of the PERI renewal programmes on the long-term residents and the wider consequences at neighbourhood and city level. Quantitative and qualitative longitudinal analyses will look at changes in housing, professional, educational, and demographic indicators and their geography (1986-2011) and interpret their correlations within the broader social and urban transformations of the city. Qualitative analysis of few paradigmatic social and ethnic groups will investigate processes of social and spatial mobility in relation to changes in socio-economic opportunities (production: i.e. employment, training), access to resources (consumption: i.e. public services, public spaces, housing affordability/progression) and neighbourhood affordability. Finally, reflections on management and delivery of the programmes are explored in relation to wider mechanisms of spatial and social differentiation and (re)-commodification of welfare services occurring in the city.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Investigating the social and spatial impacts of urban regeneration programmes in deprived and ethnically diverse neighbourhoods in southern Europe sheds light on regeneration programmes.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Regeneration programmes, also referred to as renewal or renaissance programmes, are area-based urban programmes used as methods to reduce inequalities in neighbourhoods where there is a high concentration of poverty. There is a common misconception that socially diverse and mixed communities promote more interaction between social and ethnic groups. Middle-income groups are sought in deprived neighbourhoods in order to lessen the number of disadvantaged households and create social mixing.

Whether and how area-based programmes are redistributive mechanisms or if they are instead regressive urban policies is what the EU-funded 'Neighbourhood interventions, and social and ethnic mix: The tackling of urban inequalities' (DIVERCITIES) project investigated. It sought to answer questions such as have the social and special inequalities and conditions for social mobility increased or decreased?

Findings indicated that there is a reverse in the de-population process in the city centre which has become more socially and ethnically mixed. Spatial segregation has degreased among ethnic groups and low-income households. Despite this, socio-spatial inequalities have become more intense and have changed geographically and in scale regarding segregation patterns, indicating exclusion.

Significant positive outcomes have also been shown. Integration with people-based programmes has improved welfare services and has had a positive impact lessening deprivation for long-term residents. More research is needed however to have a full understanding of the impact on social mobility.

This project's research makes an empirical contribution to the wider international theoretical and political debate on regeneration and social cohesion in cities. It has also contributed to developing a southern European framework relating public interventions with production of inequalities in order to change current patterns of thinking.