Segregation and integration: A contested relationship

Abstract

Many assume that high levels of social and/or ethnic segregation, which often go hand-in-hand with high levels of ethnic concentration, will obstruct integration and participation in society. Concentration is also felt to hamper the social mobility of those with a weak social position and/or low skills, particularly immigrants of non- Western origin. Although these ideas may have some validity in contexts where extremely high levels of social and ethnic segregation exist, they are hardly tested in contexts with more moderate levels of segregation and stronger welfare states. This paper addresses this deficiency by providing some evidence on the relationship between segregation and integration in Dutch cities, Amsterdam in particular. The findings show that, where a relationship between segregation and integration does exist, it is not a very strong one. In Amsterdam some similarly segregated population categories appear to perform differently in terms of integration. In addition, the social mixture of the residential environment hardly has any effect on the social mobility of those living there. On the other hand, I find that the level of social inequality in society is important for understanding the level of segregation. Educational programmes and variations in labour market access are crucial for understanding variations in integration. Conse quently, programmes that are aimed at de-segregation, mainly by mixing neighbour hoods socially and ethnically, will probably contribute little to enhancing integration in society.