The Transformation of Ethnic Neighborhoods into Places of Leisure and Consumption Jan Rath University of Amsterdam Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies (IMES)

Economic transformations Decline of agricultural and manufacturing industries Growth of service and knowledge industries Globalization  relocation of industries to low-wage countries  international migration of both low-skilled and high skilled people These economic and demographic processes are associated with each other, and  alter the opportunity structures  shape and reshape forms of inclusion and exclusion  add new dimensions to the already existing economic, social and cultural diversities

Political challenges Economic prosperity and social cohesion – esp. position of third-world immigrants -- are matters of serious political concern National and urban governments (in Europe) have developed a wide range of approaches fostering the incorporation of immigrants in the host society Netherlands’ government has embarked on increasingly tougher integration policy, placing increasing emphasis on native norms, values and behaviour, and disciplining the Other Political focus has shifted from socio-economic to socio- cultural issues

Contestable issues The idea has taken root that:  assimilation -- and spatial dispersion -- are the only way  the government is the only force capable of shaping these complex social processes Both ideas are problematic

But… Cultural industries have become the motor of economic development, esp. in so-called creative cities The development of creative cities is contingent -- amongst other – on open social climate and exuberant urban diversity City governments give priority to supporting cultural industries and invest large amounts of money Urban diversity is embraced as an economic resource… with the exception of urban ethno-cultural diversity However, experiences in traditional countries of settler immigration show that cultural diversity holds great attraction for a broad public.

Cultural diversity offers opportunities Commodification of cultural diversity offers social and economic opportunities (entrepreneurship, neighborhood revitalization, tourism and leisure industry) – diversity dividend  Food  Music, entertainment  Clothing  Fun shopping  Experiences -- Ghetto as tourist attraction Rise of immigrant/ethnic entrepreneurship in particular neighborhoods: local opportunity structure favorable for development of SMEs These are market-led developments

Cultural diversity offers opportunities A lasting development?  travel guides and Internet shopping guides  locations of festivals and parades  destinies of ‘city safaris’  embedded in place marketing programmes

Conditions The ‘right’ supply of ‘familiar exotica’ (‘cultural markers’, neighborhoods as nodal point of ethnic social networks, varies per ethnic group) Connected to larger urban tourism and entertainment industry (festivalization of urban space) Favorable regulation (development of inter-ethnic growth coalition, accessibility, cleanliness, safety, civic boosterism) Marketing – role of entrepreneurs and ‘critical infrastructure’

Risks and perverse effects Multiculturalism reduced to consumption of ‘sanitized ethnic Other’ Gazing at the ethnic Other, enhancing ethnic stereotypes New differences and even conflicts within and between ethnic groups (gentrification) Cultural diversity becomes dull and predictable Disruption of ‘natural’ economic-geographic processes (fossilization of urban landscapes)

Further reading… Bodaar, A. & J. Rath (2005) ‘Cities, Diversity and Public Space’, Metropolis World Bulletin, 5, pp Rath, J. (2005) ‘Feeding the Festive City. Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Tourist Industry’, pp in E. Guild & J. van Selm (Eds.), International Migration and Security: Opportunities and Challenges. London and New York: Routledge. Rath, J. (Ed.) (2007) Tourism, Ethnic Diversity and the City. London and New York: Routledge. web