What does diversity actually mean to citizens in different places, and how are these views influenced by policy choices? Mike Raco focuses on the importance of place in diversity politics and explains why public policy should focus far more on the creation of effective communities

Raco, Mike

LSE Research Online

‘Divercities’:	place-focused	public	policy	and	itsimpact	on	perceptions	of	diversityWhat	does	diversity	actually	mean	to	citizens	in	different	places,	and	how	are	these	views	influencedby	policy	choices?	Mike	Raco	focuses	on	the	importance	of	place	in	diversity	politics	and	explainswhy	public	policy	should	focus	far	more	on	the	creation	of	effective	communities.There	is	a	growing	sense	of	urgency	to	public	policy	discussions	over	diversity	and	migration	inwestern	countries.	Commentators	have	been	queueing	up	to	provide	broad-brush	explanations	for	the	rise	of	BrexitBritain,	the	dangers	posed	by	Europe’s	‘migration	crisis’,	and	Trump’s	election	victory.	David	Goodhardt’s	book	TheRoad	to	Somewhere	has	become	particularly	influential	with	its	imaginations	of	societies	divided	between‘somewheres’,	who	are	rooted	in	places	and	hostile	to	globalisation	and	migration,	and	‘anywheres’,	economic	andsocial	elites	whose	members	are	outward-looking	and	tolerant	and	have	benefited	from	globalisation	and	economicgrowth.However,	the	danger	of	such	sweeping	approaches	is	their	tendency	to	look	for	‘big’	explanations	of	change,	whilstdownplaying	the	importance	of	everyday	experiences	and	the	effects	of	public	policy	choices.	If	we	really	want	tounderstand	how	‘somewheres’	think	and	how	they	view	the	presence	of	migrants	and	diversity,	then	it	is	toexperiences	and	understandings	generated	in	places	at	the	local	level	that	we	need	to	turn	our	attention.	We	shouldthink	more	about	the	conditions	that	support	the	creation	of	more	tolerant	and	welcoming	outlooks	towards	diversityand,	conversely,	the	conditions	that	generate	greater	hostility	and	tension.What	creates	a	welcoming	or	hostile	place?Evidence	from	in-depth	work	carried	out	in	diverse	neighbourhoods	in	London	shows	that	a	focus	on	places	takes	usaway	from	simple	binaries	and	self-evident	truths	and	opens	up	new	ways	to	understand	and	explain	broader	trends.The	good	news	is	that	much	is	already	known	about	the	conditions	that	create	or	placate	tensions	between	diversegroups	in	cities.	Decades	of	research	have	shown	that	tensions	increase	when	housing	becomes	scarce;	wherepublic	services	are	weak	and	poorly	resourced;	where	urban	environments	are	poorly	maintained,	segregated	andthreatening;	and	where	individuals	and	communities	feel	a	sense	of	‘loss’	and	perceived	threats	from	social	and/oreconomic	changes.Conversely,	tensions	are	reduced	in	places	with:	well-functioning	community	infrastructure,	such	as	schools	andsocial	centres,	where	people	with	different	backgrounds	encounter	each	other	in	regular	and	repeated	ways;	openand	accessible	public	spaces	that	feel	inclusive;	small	shops,	cafes,	and	meeting	places	for	locals;	and	housing	andemployment	opportunities	that	cater	for	the	needs	of	a	range	of	groups	and	help	to	generate	a	stronger	sense	ofplace	attachment	and	wellbeing.British Politics and Policy at LSE: ‘Divercities’: place-focused public policy and its impact on perceptions of diversity Page 1 of 3		Date originally posted: 2018-04-05Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/diversity-and-the-local-experience-why-place-focused-public-policy-matters/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/Credit:	Pixabay	(Public	Domain).Austerity	cuts	and	place	dynamicsAnd	yet	despite	these	well-known	elements,	government	policies	since	the	global	financial	crisis	of	2008	have	movedtowards	unprecedented	austerity	programmes	that	are	damaging	the	very	fabric	of	places,	at	the	same	time	as	theirsocial	diversity	is	growing.	In	response	to	funding	crises,	many	local	authorities	are	having	to	cut	back	on	key	publicservices	and	infrastructure,	such	as	libraries	and	community	centres,	just	when	their	role	in	bringing	communitiestogether	has	taken	on	a	new	degree	of	importance.Austerity	is	also	having	other	effects	beyond	funding	cuts.	Local	authorities	are	being	forced	to	promote	developmentor	‘regeneration’	in	their	areas	to	raise	money.	In	major	cities,	particularly	London,	this	is	leading	to	a	frenzy	of	urbandevelopment	and	rapid,	disorientating	change	for	residents.	New	housing	is	being	targeted	at	affluent	groups,	at	theexpense	of	affordable	housing.	Worse,	the	types	of	development	being	promoted	are	limiting	opportunities	for	smallbusinesses	and	local	entrepreneurs	to	flourish.	Many	of	the	cafes	and	shops	that	support	everyday	encountersbetween	different	groups	are	being	lost	and	replaced	with	shiny	new	developments,	often	directed	towards	up-market	shoppers.	These	changes	are	strongest	in	neighbourhoods	subject	to	regeneration;	places	that	contain	thehighest	proportion	of	ethnic	minorities	and	recent	migrants.The	danger	is	that	views	towards	the	presence	of	diversity	can	change	quickly,	particularly	under	conditions	oftransformation.	Local	experiences	over	living	in	areas	with	overcrowded	housing,	seeing	large	numbers	ofmarginalised	young	migrants	with	little	to	do	in	public	spaces,	or	the	perceived	impact	of	new	groups	on	over-stretched	public	services,	can	quickly	generate	feelings	of	hostility	and	resentment.	It	is	through	these	localexperiences	that	border	political	views	take	shape.	It	becomes	easier	to	blame	visible	migrants	for	urban	stressesthan	abstract	changes	in	local	government	finance	under	austerity.The	local	scale	and	a	politics	of	hopeDespite	these	trends,	our	research	indicates	that	there	are	grounds	for	hope.	By	recognising	the	importance	of	thelocal	scale,	planning	and	welfare	policies	could	and	should	focus	more	on	the	creation	of	more	cohesive	places.	It	isnotable	that	in	London,	longer-term	counter-austerity	investments	in	schools	have	had	a	positive	effect	not	onlyeducational	attainment	but	also	in	generating	positive	encounters	between	diverse	groups.		Schools	and	otherwelfare	services	including	health	and	social	care,	or	public	infrastructure	such	as	libraries,	can,	if	funded	properly,	actas	bonding	agents,	bringing	very	different	people	together	in	ways	that	generate	long-term	friendships	and	changingviews.British Politics and Policy at LSE: ‘Divercities’: place-focused public policy and its impact on perceptions of diversity Page 2 of 3		Date originally posted: 2018-04-05Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/diversity-and-the-local-experience-why-place-focused-public-policy-matters/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/Planning	policies	might	also	be	more	ambitious	in	creating	the	conditions	for	functioning	places	and	in	enablingcommunities	to	flourish.	Less	reliance	on	major	urban	development	projects	to	fund	local	programmes	would	help.More	imaginative	programmes	to	support	local	private-sector	businesses	could	also	play	an	important	role.	Theycould	learn	from	countries	such	as	France,	where	subsidies	are	given	to	small	shops	and	cafes	that	are	deemed	toprovide	a	‘community	benefit’	and	whose	loss	would	damage	the	quality	of	life	of	local	people.	In	other	countries,housing	policies	guarantee	housing	as	a	right	and	support	this	through	significant	public	investment.	In	the	longerterm,	more	interventionist	housing	policies	that	provide	a	broader	range	of	housing	types	and	opportunities	couldalso	help	build	more	cohesive	places.It	is	therefore	imperative	that	explanations	for	the	rise	of	diversity	politics	move	away	from	simple	binaries:‘anywheres’	versus	‘somewheres’,	or	‘out	of	touch	elites’	versus	‘the	people’.	Our	research	shows	that,	in	reality,individuals’	perspectives	are	much	more	fluid	and	open.	It	is	possible	for	citizens	to	be	concerned	with	the	speed	andscale	of	changes	taking	place	in	communities	and	celebrate	the	presence	of	greater	diversity,	as	well	as	the	ways	inwhich	it	had	enriched	their	lives	and	given	them	broader	outlooks.	So	whilst	living	with	diversity	can	generatetensions	and	concerns,	it	is	the	material	conditions	of	places,	housing,	and	employment	markets	that	have	asubstantial	impact	on	perceptions	and	views.______Note:	read	more	about	the	EUFP7-funded	project	Divercities,	on	which	the	above	draws	on,	here.About	the	AuthorMike	Raco	is	Professor	of	Urban	Governance	and	Development	at	The	Bartlett	School	of	Planning,University	College	London.			All	articles	posted	on	this	blog	give	the	views	of	the	author(s),	and	not	the	position	of	LSE	British	Politics	and	Policy,nor	of	the	London	School	of	Economics	and	Political	Science.	British Politics and Policy at LSE: ‘Divercities’: place-focused public policy and its impact on perceptions of diversity Page 3 of 3		Date originally posted: 2018-04-05Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/diversity-and-the-local-experience-why-place-focused-public-policy-matters/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/

'Divercities': place-focused public policy and its impact on perceptions of diversity

http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/89606/1/politicsandpolicy-diversity-and-the-local-experience-why-place.pdf

'Divercities': place-focused public policy and its impact on perceptions of diversity

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

LSE Research Online