Using Social Media and Mobile Technologies to Foster Engagement and Self-organisation in Participatory Urban Planning and Neighbourhood Governance

This editorial explores the potential of social media and mobile technologies to foster citizen engagement and participation in urban planning. We argue that there is a lot of wishful thinking, but little empirically validated knowledge in this emerging field of study. We outline key developments and pay attention to larger societal and...

Mandatory volunteer work as fair reciprocity for unemployment and social benefits

Modern welfare policies are increasingly based on notions of reciprocity. Citizens on welfare benefits have to do something in return, e.g. volunteer work. Notwithstanding general public support, social philosophers have been critical on ‘mandatory’ activities in community programmes. So far, the participants themselves have scarcely been asked...

Lessen over buurtontwikkeling en buurtverval

Steden zijn een bron en broedplaats van economische en culturele ontwikkeling. Maar wat is nu de kracht van de stad? Om dit uit te zoeken hebben onderzoekers en professionals hun krachten en expertise gebundeld in het programma Kennis voor Krachtige Steden (KKS). Het resultaat: concrete oplossingsrichtingen voor stedelijke sociaal-economische...

Onderzoek Hoogvliet: Wijkaanpak heeft nauwelijks effect op sociale mobiliteit van bewoners

Hoogvliet is in de afgelopen vijftien jaar vergaand geherstructureerd volgens de wijkaanpak. Langetermijn onderzoek van de TU Delft en de Universiteit van Amsterdam naar effecten laat zien dat Hoogvliet als wijk sterk is verbeterd, maar dat de beoogde effecten op de bewoners zelf echter nagenoeg uitblijven. Wie sociale mobiliteit wil bevorderen,...

Segregation, choice based letting and social housing: How housing policy can affect the segregation process

In this chapter we investigate the process of ethnic minority segregation in English social housing. Successive governments have expressed a commitment to the con-tradictory aims of providing greater choice – through the introduction of choice based letting – for households accessing an increasingly marginalised social housing sector whilst also...

Segregation, Choice Based Letting and Social Housing: How Housing Policy Can Affect the Segregation Process (discussion paper)

In this chapter we investigate the process of ethnic minority segregation in English social housing. Successive governments have expressed a commitment to the contradictory aims of providing greater choice – through the introduction of choice based letting – for households accessing an increasingly marginalised social housing sector whilst also...

Social Mixing as a Cure for Negative Neighbourhood Effects: Evidence Based Policy or Urban Myth? (discussion paper)

In this paper, we review the evidence base for social mixing in neighbourhoods, which is used as a strategy to tackle assumed negative neighbourhood effects. We discuss in detail the theoretical links between neighbourhood characteristics, and outcomes of individuals living in concentrations of poverty. Through this we identify the theoretical...