WEEK 7 Diversity and Spatial
Differentiation in the
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of these weeks, the students should be able to:
Explain the diversity and spatial differentiation in the city; and
Analyze the political, economic, cultural, and social factors underlying
the city movements of people.
SUGGESTED TEACHING LEARNING:
Class Lecture/Discussion: How are identities and space connected?
Term paper: Locate information on the ways in which immigrants have
spatially located and the reasons behind the transfer in the city.
Specifically look into the correlation of economic factors and migration
form provinces into the cities.
BACKGROUND
Diversity represents the new guiding
principle for city planners. As such, it constitutes an
antithesis to previous orientations toward urban
design, in which segregation of homogeneous
districts was the governing orthodoxy. Typical of
revolutions in thought, the present rebellion against
earlier dogmas has been shaped by them. The
elevation of diversity as the primary criterion for
evaluating urban form, to the neglect of other
values, responds to earlier obsessions with
orderliness, efficiency, and protection of property
values, which are now alleged to have produced
dullness and discrimination against “the other.”
In relation to the two broad purposes of urban policy— stimulating growth and
achieving equity—it is now claimed that ensuring diversity is key. According to this
view, diversity attracts human capital, encourages innovation, and ensures fairness
and equal access to a variety of groups. Indeed, by this logic, the competitive
advantage of cities, and thus the most promising approach to attaining economic
success, lies in enhancing diversity within the society, economic base, and built
environment. The purpose of this article is to explore the usefulness of elevating
diversity to its current status—to describe its content, locate its intellectual and
practical context, examine the arguments in its favor, consider whether planners
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can actually achieve diverse environments, and propose an alternate formulation of
the just city.
THE IDEAL OF DIVERSITY IN THE CITY
The term diversity has a variety of meanings in urban literature. Among
urban designers it refers to mixing building types; among planners it may mean
mixed uses or class and racial-ethnic heterogeneity; for sociologists and cultural
analysts it primarily takes on the latter meaning. Some writers focus on only one of
these interpretations; many, however, see each type of diversity as linked to the
others, even while there is considerable disagreement as to the direction of
causality. Writers from different intellectual backgrounds have, since the 1960s,
made eloquent pleas for a strategy of urban redevelopment that stimulates physical
and social heterogeneity. Most influential within the discipline of planning was Jane
Jacobs’s call for a cityscape based on multiple uses, which she argues would
promote economic and social diversity.
Jacobs urges planners to eschew abstract models of ideal cities, which she
sarcastically collapses into a single paradigm entitled “radiant garden city
beautiful.” Instead, she exhorts them to look at the real cities that people love and
which are characterized by congestion, multiple interactions among
strangers, short streets, and mixed uses. In later works she contends that
diversity not only makes cities more appealing but is the source of economic
productivity. Her reasoning anticipates the recent, widely publicized argument of
Richard Florida (2002, p. 30), who asserts that “places have replaced companies as
the key organizing units in our economy.” They do so, as both he and Jacobs argue,
because their diversity stimulates creativity. Thus, she links physical, economic, and
social diversity and gives physical differentiation a causal role in producing the
other types.
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Associated with
Migration
Different Lifestyles Cities are Spatial Segregation in
terms of ethnicity and
within and between diverse in socio-econmic
groups. terms of: variables.
Unequal opportunities
for different groups of
urban residents.
Figure 1. Causes of Diversity in the City
Cities are becoming more Diverse BECAUSE?
Within cities, quite a number of neighborhoods also show
a large diversity, often accompanied by large differences in
lifestyles and socioeconomic inequality. Within such
neighbourhoods’ residents may live spatially mixed or more
separated. Diversity within cities and neighbourhood can create
problems, such as feelings of discomfort, clashing values and
norms, conflicts on or over public space, racism and even open
conflicts on the streets. Diverse cities and neighbourhoods can
however also create opportunities for their residents: the
presence of different people in a relatively small area creates
possibilities for new social contacts, social cohesion, innovative
practices of solidarity in diversity, and social mobility. Whether
diversity has positive or negative effects depends partly on
policies and local initiatives that stimulates social contacts and
collaboration between the different groups present in the area.
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Figure 2. Effects of Diversity in the City
SPATIAL DIFFERENTIATION IN THE
CITY
-Spatial Differentiation in general refers to the spatial representation of
uneven development across geographic spaces (Walker, 1978). It also corresponds
to and substantially represents social differentiation or division of social function.
The notion that economic activity is not evenly dispersed across the land. That is,
goods, services, resources, production, and consumption are more concentrated at
some locations and less concentrated at other locations due to natural endowments
and human activity.
Three (3) of the basic level of Spatial Differentiation in the City.
Sociospatial
Differentiation
The processes of Sociospatial differentiation
include the revealing of historical legacies of inequalities
that existed prior to the socialist city and the inequalities
forged under socialism, fragmentation of the structure of
housing provision, the market economy of urban
development, globalization and economic restructuring,
and rural-urban migration. At the subdistrict level, these
processes are interacting and reinforcing each other and
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creating new social spaces in urban places. Through
comparing the demographic composition of selected
subdistricts, spatial inequalities among these districts are
revealed. The differentiation of social spaces includes but
Spatial Differentiation in
Organizational Structures
Spatial differentiation occurs when employees work in different locations. For
instance, a small in bookseller might have both a retail bookstore and a warehouse.
Vertical differentiation occurs when the company develops a chain of command.
Cultural Differentiation
Cultural differences contribute to person’s
relationship with their external environment. The result of
these groupings can be characterized in identifiable
behavioral, and personality differences. Addressed as
social competencies, they may include differences in
levels of sel-disclosure, assertiveness, willingness to
cooperate, maintain positions of individual or shared
interpersonal style. For example, the culture that dictates
that individuals dominate their environment in contract
with the culture that promotes living in harmony.
Two ways of understanding Cultural Differentiation
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Example of Spatial Differentiation
The notion that economic activity is not evenly dispersed across the
land. That is, goods, services, resources, production, and consumption.
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Goods or Product differentiation is a way for products and brands to
command market share based on consumer preferences. customers
Goo choose products for various reasons whether it be price, brand image,
quality or durability, taste, color, or a temporary trend.
ds
Differentated service is a design pattern for business services and
software, in which the service varies automatically according ti the
Ser identity of the consumer [Link] the context in which the srvice is used.
vice SOmetime known as smart services or context-aware service.
s
Production differention is what makes your product or service stand
out to your target audience. it's how you distinguish what you sell from
Prod what your competitors do, and it increase brand loyalty, sales, and
growth. focusing on your customers us a good start to successful
ucti product differenttiation.
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Are more concentrated at some locations and less concentrated at
Cons other locations due to natural endowments and human activity.
umpt
ion
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WEEK 8 Continuation on
Diversity and Spatial
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of these weeks, the students should be able to:
Explain the diversity and spatial differentiation in the city; and
Analyze the political, economic, cultural, and social factors underlying
the city movements of people.
SUGGESTED TEACHING LEARNING:
Class Lecture/Discussion: How are identities and space connected?
Term paper: Locate information on the ways in which immigrants have
spatially located and the reasons behind the transfer in the city.
Specifically look into the correlation of economic factors and migration
form provinces into the cities.
Political factors underlying the City Movement and
Settlement
The concept of sustainable development assumes a balance of social,
environmental and economic interests in the management of any territory,
including the city. The implementation of sustainable development principles makes
the city more attractive for living and investment, enhances the city’s economic
survival capacity in times of crisis. The definition of “sustainability” denotes
different concepts for different situations, transforming over time. In relation to the
modern city the environmental aspect is not considered enough. In the past, cities
felt a great need to improve the social and economic conditions. The main criteria of
comfortable urban living were the possibility to meet social and domestic needs and
the absence of a trade deficit. Important factor of urban sustainable development
was a stable transport infrastructure that can support the needs of the city in
everyday conditions and in force majeure situations.
Firms should track their political environment. Change in the political
factors can affect business strategy and the movement of people in the city
because of the following reasons: The stability of a political system can affect
the appeal of a particular local market. Government’s view business
organizations as a critical vehicle for social reform.
Economic factors underlying the City Movement and
Settlement
Today, understanding the issues of urban
economics is needed more than ever with expansion of
cities and due to the rapid development of science and
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technology and increasing economic and social changes.
All issues such as growth and development of cities,
transport, marginalization and immigration, employment
and unemployment, economic prosperity, better use of
economic resources, environmental problems and
pollution, world trade and some others become
meaningful in the form of urban economics concept
(Rhine Berger, 2003).
In this field, economic tools are used for analysis of issues related to the families’
decision -making areas for a favorable residential environment and also economic
institutions in cities (Salvesn, 2002). Therefore, one of the effective factors as
fundamental one is urban economics in family’s satisfaction in residential
environment and also urban movement. In fact, residential satisfaction is an amount
of an individual or members of a family defined due to the current condition of living
environment (Davies et al., 2000) Not only includes satisfaction from residential
unit, but it also includes satisfaction from region and living place (Ogu, 2002), and
its result is people’s understanding from the concept of life quality (Djebuarni & Al -
abed, 2000). Also, this concept is a reaction that a family behaves toward the
residential environment problems in residential displacement studies.
Reasons of some Residential Displacement
Those who move are people or groups motivated
rationally to achieve a better economic life.
Human beings begin to move for maximizing profit
and reducing loss to improve their life condition.
Optimal condition of life like housing, urban
facilities and other cases like life quality and social
status are considered as bases for determining
destitation.
Cultural factors underlying the City Movement and
Settlement
Cultural factors comprise of set of values and ideologies of a
particular community or group of individuals. It is the culture of an individual
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which decides the way he/she behaves. In simpler words, culture is nothing but
values of an individual. What an individual learns from his parents and relatives as a
child becomes his culture.
Example - In India, people still value joint family system and family ties.
Children in India are conditioned to stay with their parents till they get married as
compared to foreign countries where children are more independent and leave their
parents once they start earning a living for themselves.
Cultural factors have a significant effect on an individual’s buying decision.
Every individual has different sets of habits, beliefs and principles which he/she
develops from his family status and background. What they see from their
childhood becomes their culture.
City Culture
Are aspects of life in a city that people enjoy and regard as valuable. Culture
emerges over the history of a city as a result of the shared experiences of its
residents. A city may have more than one culture. For example, a cosmopolitan city
can be viewed as a patchwork of super cultures, subcultures and traditional
cultures. The following are the basic types of city culture. Cultural expert, Ndela
Ntshangase says urbanization effects people's culture because they are dominated
by western culture.
“When people stay in the urban areas for a long time then they can be absorbed by
urbanization, even other cultures. When they go back to their homes, rural areas,
they come with these ideas, and influence their areas.”
Social factors underlying the City Movement and
Settlement
Individual factors are psychological states that either convince people to
join a movement or so weaken their commitment to conventional groups that they
are willing to risk the groups’ disapproval because of their belief in an unpopular
cause. Failure to achieve a satisfying status and identity within normal membership
groups may be such a factor. The prestige and sense of belonging, which such
people may gain as members of a social movement, may be even more important
to them than the values of the movement. Alienation, feelings of powerlessness,
hopelessness, and estrangement from society may predispose individuals to
participation. Some scholars argue, however, that there are different kinds of
alienation. One type leads merely to apathy and resignation. Political alienation,
however, reflects a loss of faith in the political community and predisposes the
individual to join a movement that challenges it.
Deprivation, discontent, and frustration are frequently assumed to be
sufficient causes for initiating or joining a social movement. The relationship is not a
simple one, however. There is little evidence that the most deprived segments of a
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population are the most likely to participate in social movements. The concept
of relative deprivation has been used to explain the fact that persons who could be
much worse off than they are but still feel deprived in comparison with even more
fortunate groups often play a prominent part in social movements.
Social factors
An important task of the student of social movements is to identify those
conditions under which social movements are most likely to arise. While the
existence of widespread poverty and suffering might seem sufficient to give rise to
efforts at reform, it must be emphasized again that some basis for hope must also
exist to stir people to make the effort. Paradoxically, partial alleviation of conditions
of deprivation may provide such a basis, serving as the impetus for the formation of
a social movement just as things seem to be getting better. The success of other
people similarly situated, such as victorious revolutionaries in a neighboring nation,
may be another source of hope.
More general theories of the origin of social movements, such as those of
Smelser, Turner, and Killian, suggest that social change may result in strains or
conflicts in one or more crucial aspects of the social order. Normative strain arises
when changing conditions create a situation in which the established norms no
longer lead to the attainment of important, accepted values. Strain in values arises
when the values themselves seem to interfere with the satisfaction of important
needs of a segment of the society. This sort of strain often arises when different
groups, such as immigrants, minorities, or the younger generation, develop values
that conflict with those of more established groups. Even with little change in norms
and values, changes in social structure reflected in the failure of important
functionaries to play their roles adequately may lead to discontent.
The general nature of the belief system existing in the culture of a society
affects the likelihood that social movements will arise and defines the type that will
occur. For example, a system that is essentially fatalistic is less conducive to social
movements, particularly those with a strategy of societal manipulation, than one
that emphasizes the perfectibility of human beings and their control over their own
fate.
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Week 7-8- Worksheet
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Task 1. Do as indicated. (50 points).
1. How are Identities and space connected?
2. In what way does ethnocentrism differ from xenocentrism?
3. How are alienation affects the city movement and settlement of people?
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