Abstract
This article is aimed at defining the role of migratory movements in the dynamics of the sociodemographic transformation of neighbourhoods in the Brussels-Capital Region, and at making some observations in terms of political implications. There are several significant summarising elements which may be drawn from this analysis of complex migratory movements in the Region. The poorest territories in the city – the “poor area” – are at the crossroads of diverging migratory movements, marked in particular by the arrival of new immigrants from poor or intermediate countries and the departure of resident populations. Nevertheless, the analysis also shows that these neighbourhoods may not be reduced to having a transit function, given that a significant proportion of their population remains there. In contrast, the richest parts of the city, located in the southeast quadrant of the Region, have experienced much less massive migratory movements. They are not home to newcomers or to households leaving the disadvantaged areas of the city. They thus appear to be closed for the most part to population movements.
Highlights
It must be borne in mind that the dynamics of neighbourhoods in Brussels must be understood at metropolitan level, as suburbanisation is widespread [De Maesschalck et al, 2015]
It is important to note that the processes described for the metropolitan space in Brussels are observed in the other big cities in Belgium, in particular Antwerp [Van Hamme et al, 2015]: the continued widespread suburbanisation, the complexity of the dynamics of poor central neighbourhoods and the deterioration of socioeconomic indicators in the territories adjacent to the poorest sectors of the city are seen, often to a lesser extent
The role of migratory processes in these complex dynamics may be summarised in a few key features
Summary
Based on the observation that Brussels is a city marked by a strong social and territorial divide between poor and rich neighbourhoods [Van Hamme, 2010], since the beginning of the 1990s, the political response on behalf of the authorities of the Brussels-Capital Region has favoured targeted and multidimensional action in the poor territories of the city, in particular through Neighbourhood Contract programmes [Sacco, 2010]. These policies are based in particular on the idea that spatial segregation reinforces social inequalities via ‘neighbourhood effects’ [Musterd et al, 2003]. We shall examine certain political implications of the results of the analyses
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
