How the architecture of housing blocks amplifies or dampens interethnic tensions in ethnically diverse neighbourhoods

Maurice Crul*, Carl H.D. Steinmetz, Frans Lelie

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

This article explores how the architecture of neighbourhoods influences interethnic tensions in ethnically diverse neigh-bourhoods. We found that people of Dutch descent living in apartments in four storey walk-ups in ethnically diverse inner-city neighbourhoods seem less likely to feel threatened by ethnic diversity than people living in in similarly diverse suburbs characterized by larger housing blocks featuring inner courtyards and galleries. Further analysis reveals that the residents of these suburbs share various types of semi-public spaces and have competing interests in using them, whereas the residents of inner-city neighbourhoods share fewer semi-public spaces and therefore have more scope to choose when and how to engage in interethnic contact with other residents. We also explore residents’ housing histories and examine differences between people who either have more negative or more positive views on diversity with regard to their active participation in various organizations. This last piece of the puzzle will be used to analyse the potential for both negative and positive messages about ethnic diversity to spread. Based on the empirical findings, we will formulate some building blocks that can help to further explain the level of perceived ethnic tensions in ethnically diverse neighbourhoods.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)194-202
Number of pages9
JournalSocial Inclusion
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Mar 2020

Funding

The article reflects part of the secondary data analysis for the project Becoming a Minority (BAM), which was awarded with ERC Advanced Grant No. 741532. The authors want to thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. They also want to thank Liz Cross for her careful proofreading.

FundersFunder number
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme741532
European Research Council

    Keywords

    • Diversity
    • Ethnic tensions
    • Housing
    • Interethnic contact
    • Neighbourhoods

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