Residential mobility in divided societies: How individual religion and geographical context influenced housing moves in Northern Ireland 2001–2011

Ian Shuttleworth,Tony Champion,Brian Foley,Myles Gould

doi:10.1002/psp.2387

Abstract

AbstractResidential segregation is pervasive in many societies. People making residential moves in these divided contexts may increase or decrease segregation levels. In this paper, the divided society of Northern Ireland is used as an example to explore how residential mobility relates to residential segregation by religion. Survey evidence for this country consistently shows a preference for mixed neighbourhoods, yet actual patterns of geographical mobility suggest people move to same‐religion areas. The paper uses the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study (NILS) to explore the individual and contextual factors that influence the destinations of internal migrants by religion between 2001 and 2011. How they move up or down the contextual ‘religion ladder’ of localities is modelled with reference to both their individual socio‐demographic and neighbourhood characteristics in 2001. It is found that there are still individual religious differentials in people's destinations. Catholics, for instance, are more likely than Protestants to move to more Catholic areas, suggesting that individual religion remains important despite the Peace Process. Some possible reasons for this are considered with a partial explanation being found in the geographical patterning of the population. Existing patterns of residential segregation constrain moves in religious space for the majority of people. It is concluded, nevertheless, that an individual's religion remains a considerable factor contrary to expectations.

Highlights

Residential segregation is often viewed statically as geographical patterning at one moment in time
Catholics and Protestants are very similar with the majority still in the same religion quintile in 2011 as in 2001 with very few moving between very different quintiles
The analysis set out to examine whether the geography of residential mobility of Catholics and Protestants still differed during 2001–2011 intercensal period

Summary

Introduction

Residential segregation is often viewed statically as geographical patterning at one moment in time. This paper uses the example of Northern Ireland to investigate how individual sociodemographic and neighbourhood characteristics shape residential moves through religiously segregated space; and the latter is conceptualised as the religious composition of an area measured in terms of the proportionate preponderance of either Catholics or Protestants.

Results

Conclusion