Migrant place-making in super-diverse neighbourhoods: Moving beyond ethno-national approaches

Abstract

Whilst attention has previously focused on the importance of monolithic ethnic identities on migrant place-making less attention has been paid to how placemaking proceeds in super-diverse urban neighbourhoods where no single ethnic group predominates. This paper makes an original contribution by identifying the factors that shape migrants affinity with, or alienation from, super-diverse neighbourhoods.Through using and critiquing an analytical framework developed by Gill (2010) that identifies 'ideal' and 'pathological' place-making strategies, the paper contrasts two super-diverse neighbourhoods in the UK with different histories of diversity. We show how 'ideal' migrant place-making is more likely to occur where there is a common neighbourhood identity based around diversity, difference and / or newness, and where those with 'visible' differences can blend in. In contrast, 'pathologies' are more likely where the on-going churn of newcomers, coupled with the speed and recency of change, undermine migrant's affinity with place and where the diversity of the neighbourhoodis not yet embedded. Even where neighbourhood identity based on diversity is established, it may alienate less visible migrants and culminate in a new form of (minority) white flight.Keywords -Super-diversity; neighbourhood; migrant place-making 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 This paper contributes new knowledge about the ways in which migrant place-making proceeds in super-diverse areas. It highlights how multiple aspects of super-diversity and the visibility of individuals can be equally important as ethno-national identity in shaping attachment and affinity to the neighbourhood. In so doing, it moves beyond existing analyses of migrant place-making that focus on single ethnic groups. IntroductionThe paper identifies experiences of place-making in two different areas: one with a long history of diversity and another more recently diversifying. It extends existing knowledge to long-standing interests on the influences shaping place-making in the United States (U.S.) and Western Europe (see Amith, 2005; Juan, 2005;Fortier, 2000;Ryan et al., 2008).Migrant place-making has been recognised as a way for migrants to forge and assert a collective identity amongst host populations, and particularly when faced with issues of discrimination (Castles and Davidson 2009;Gill, 2010). In addition, place-making amongst migrant populations can be understood as a mechanism -both physically and conceptually -to establish the validity and aspirations of a new community (Gill 2010).However, place-making can be both constructive and destructive. It can provide the opportunity for migrants to retain a national identity in their destination countries, lead to conflict and issues of exclusion, alienation, resistance and can become a catalyst for racism (Amith, 200...

Migrant belonging, social location and the neighbourhood: Recent migrants in East London and Birmingham

“…This relates to Ahmed's conceptualization of strangers as 'not simply those who are not known in this dwelling, but those who are, in their very proximity, already recognised as not belonging, as being out of place' (Ahmed, 2000:22, author's emphasis). This was particularly prevalent for migrants from Africa, who contrasted the challenges of living in predominantly white British areas with the comfort of living in more mixed areas where they could blend in more (see also Pemberton & Phillimore 2016). However, living in an area dominated by one ethnic minority was similarly described as challenging on the grounds of not fitting in and feeling treated like an outsider.…”

“…The pioneer migrants presented in this article, however, often either lacked coethnic social networks, or distanced themselves from co-ethnics and showed little interest in co-ethnic relations on the grounds of few commonalities in terms of, for example, socio-economic backgrounds, religion or shared interests (Wessendorf 2017 [forthcoming]). Pemberton and Phillimore (2016) raise the question of how migrants develop a sense of affinity to areas which could also be described as super-diverse, demonstrating that an area of long-standing diversity made it easier for visibly different migrants to settle and develop a sense of belonging. This article builds on these findings by looking at pioneer migrants who have come to the UK individually and do not join an already existing 'community' and are thus unable to develop a sense of belonging to a diasporic community.…”

Ethnic minorities' reactions to newcomers in East London: Symbolic boundaries and convivial labor

“…New migrants often move into places which are already settled by previous migrants. Such areas are frequently used as “arrival zones” where newcomers find their feet (Pemberton & Phillimore, ; Phillimore, Humphris, & Khan, ). While in much public and policy discourse the assumption prevails that it is white majority residents who have to contend with the changes which immigration can bring to an area, an emerging body of research in the UK and beyond has looked at the local experiences, perceptions, and attitudes towards newcomers among long‐established ethnic minorities in areas which they have made their home, and where they predominate not just in numbers but also by way of shops, religious sites, school population, and so on (Albeda, Tersteeg, Oosterlynck, & Verschraegen, ; Erel, ; Hall, ; Heil, ; Hickman, Mai, & Crowley, ; Phillips, Athwal, Robinson, & Harrison, ).…”

Een verbindende verzorgingsstaat. Over burgerschap, zorg en (super)diversiteit

“…Luisteren we naar stadssociologen, dan liggen intensieve verbindingen tussen buren niet voor de hand (zie ook Prins 2010). Onderzoek in Engeland, België en Nederland laat zien dat hoewel in sommige superdiverse wijken een modus vivendi is gevonden, in andere wel degelijk spanningen bestaan (Wessendorf 2014, Blommaert 2013, Mepschen 2016, Pemberton en Phillimore 2016.…”