EU research projects on diversity, identity and social cohesion

Some EU-funded research projects have focused on social exclusion (its spatial patterns, dynamics causing it) and integration issues, examined in various contexts and especially related to immigrants and ethnic minorities: 4th Framework Programme projects: URBEX, BETWIXT, GESTION PUBLIQUE DE LA DEVIANCE, MIGRINF. 5th Framework Programme projects: SOCOHO, ENGIME, LIMITS, Changing city spaces. Other 6th Framework [...]

Public and academic debates and their weaknesses

Main debates and conceptions of inclusion and integration of migrants in the 20th century in Europe: It is important to understand that changes in political and social contexts  → changes in attitudes towards newcomers. 1945-80s Early 90s Late 90s - Political commitment to democracy – Impulse to think inclusively – Concentration on cultural diversity for the [...]

What is social cohesion?

There are different definitions of social cohesion, but their common elements are the following ones (Pahl 1991; Kearns & Forrest 2000; Dekker, 2006): BUT, in reality this is not so easy because several elements interact and interrelate:

What is super diversity?

The concept of diversity describes those visible or invisible aspects that make people differ from each other. Elements of diversity can be age, gender, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, disability, etc. But what is super diversity?

The relational and cultural dimensions in governance debates

The relational and cultural dimensions in governance debates:

Social economy initiatives in housing

Forrest and Kearns 2006: Click here for examples of social economy initiatives in housing in different countries.

Migration

INCREASING MIGRATION: Projects considering the role of housing in social cohesion and integration:

Why are housing systems important for social cohesion?

   (Prak & Priemus 1984, Hall et al 2005) Projects relating housing systems and social cohesion:  

Different models and classifications of housing systems

However… Click here to read a summary table of experiences based upon the Welfare State Models Theory (Esping-Andersen, 1990).

Health and well-being

(Deiner and Seligman, 2004:1) Click here to read more information about initiatives defending more well-being concerned policies. Click here to see a Eurobarometer figure showing that economic and financial measures have a weak impact on individual/ social happiness or life satisfaction. But…   Ellaway et al (2001):   Research on low-income neighbourhoods in Glasgow (UK) shows [...]