Ethnic Segregation and Policy: Introduction

Abstract

In the early nineties urban social problems figured large on the political agenda in Western Europe. Many people think there has been a growing dereliction of neighbourhoods going on in cities throughout the European Union. Whatever the causes might have been, the root of the problem is regarded as being the dramatic level of unemployment of over 20 million people in 1997. Bearing in mind the nearly full employment of the post-war economy, the increase is staggering. Government seems powerless as the average level of unemployment comes to at a higher level with each business cycle. Moreover, the occurrence of unemployment and associated, wider economic problems is very location specific. Some areas flourish while others are in decay. This uneven development has resulted in a state in which it is no longer sensible to talk about rich versus poor countries, or a north — south division within Europe. Some areas of ‘poor’ countries actually outperform the weaker parts of ‘rich’ countries. Besides, the transition from poor to rich can be very sudden. Booming urban areas often lie adjacent to their declining counterparts, with postmodern office workers hidden in glass towers hermetically sealed off from the problems on the streets.