Living together in multi-ethnic neighbourhoods: The meaning of public spaces for issues of social integration

253 Pages·2011·4.38 MB·English

Living together in
multi-ethnic neighbourhoods
The meaning of public spaces for issues
of social integration
Karin Peters
Living together in multi-ethnic neighbourhoods
Living together in
multi-ethnic neighbourhoods
The meaning of public spaces for issues of social integration
Karin Peters
Wageningen Academic 
P u b l i s h e r s
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Preface
I’ve been interested in cultural and ethnic diversity since I was a young girl. I fnd the
position of minority groups in Western societies very thought-provoking. When I was
eighteen, I made a rational decision to study not cultural anthropology but agricultural
economy, which I did. However, after graduating from Wageningen University, I decided to
study anthropology after all, but as a part-time student.
My interest in cultural diversity was one of the main reasons I started my PhD research.
Although I was fortunate enough to be allowed to design my own project, it took me quite
some time to narrow down my focus from the rather broad one of ‘ethnic diversity’. One of
the reasons it took me so long to do so is that I started my PhD project without making sure
that I’d have enough time to devote to it. But once I’d started, it soon became clear that many
other things were more urgent, or at least had a shorter deadline, than getting a PhD. There
were all sorts of reasons not to work on my research, but to spend time on education and other
tasks. Then, some two and a half years ago, I determined that I would fnish my PhD in 2011.
I should frst like to thank all my colleagues with whom I discussed various scientifc and
everyday issues. We went through quite hectic times in terms of movement: we started at
the Hucht, then moved to GAIA, and many colleagues came and went, including a new chair
and even a ‘new’ chair group, at least in name. More specifcally, I want to thank Rene for our
daily chats, Irena for always giving me positive feedback (especially when I really needed it),
the girls in B301 for expressing their critical but joyful thoughts about almost everything, and
of course Carla, who helped me a lot with many types of necessary and less necessary things.
Jaap, thank you for both your continuous support and the freedom you gave me (and I really
enjoyed our meetings in Zoelen). Henk, I would like to thank you for your constructive way
of working, and for thinking with me about possible steps and solutions.
Many more contributed in various ways: I should like to thank Linda Peeters for helping
with the feldwork in Lombok, and Marjolein Kloek for her help in Nijmegen. I also thank
the students who helped to transcribe the interviews and, of course, the residents who
shared their insights into their everyday lives.
My thanks also go to my family and friends, who remained interested in my research and
repeatedly asked (but not too often!) when I thought it would be fnished. And a special word
for Lieve: we’ve discussed many of the important things in life, and it’s nice to know that
someone thinks like I do. I’m deeply grateful to my father and mother, who early on taught
me to make my own choices, and later on continued to support me – even though they
would have made different choices. Thank you Patricia, my sister: we differ in almost every
respect, but that doesn’t prevent us from having a close relationship. And Maaike and Tim:
I’m so thankful to both of you, as you gave me good reasons to stop working and enjoy life
from time to time! And last – but far from least – Hans-Erik: thank you for your continuous
love and support.
Living together in multi-ethnic neighbourhoods 7
Table of contents
Preface 7
PART I. Setting the scene
1. Introduction 13
1.1 Research objectives and questions 15
1.2 Starting points 17
1.3 Outline of the thesis 18
2. D utch society: issues of migration, social integration, leisure and the
neighbourhood 21
2.1 History of migration 21
2.2 Ethnic minority policy in the Netherlands 27
2.3 Discourse of integration and multiculturalism 31
2.4 Dutch neighbourhoods: problems, solutions and issues 33
2.5 Policies on leisure, ethnicity and integration 40
PART II. Theoretical perspective
3. Leisure, identity and social integration 45
3.1 Defining leisure 45
3.2 Leisure and identity construction 47
3.3 Ethnicity in leisure practices 49
3.4 Individual perspective on social integration 59
3.5 Leisure and social integration 60
3.6 Conclusion 67
4. Urban public spaces and social integration 69
4.1 Urban public spaces 70
4.2 Leisure, identity and public spaces 72
4.3 Social integration in public space 73
4.4 Linking leisure, public space and social integration 82
PART III. The research context
5. Methodology and methods 87
5.1 Selection of cases 87
5.2 Methods 88
5.3 Data collection 91
5.4 Analysis 93
5.5 Trustworthiness 94
Living together in multi-ethnic neighbourhoods 9