Superdiversity in the Post-Industrial City: A Comparative Analysis of Backlash Narratives in Six European Neighbourhoods

Abstract

This chapter assesses how the urban setting conditions emerging us/them distinctions at neighbourhood level. This analysis involves paying particular attention to the nature and make-up of backlash narratives, as these essentially represent localised responses to changing power dynamics and resource allocations. The chapter draws on findings from fieldwork carried out at neighbourhood level in three European cities: Barcelona, London, and Turin. It discusses the conceptualisations of the post-industrial city, with particular emphasis on the application of Edward Soja's multiscalar view of the city. The chapter then looks at the relationship between post-industrial urban dynamics and emerging backlash narratives in the six selected neighbourhoods. Finally, it examines how one-off neighbourhood forums staged in each neighbourhood served to verify research findings while also providing insights into inter-group relations at neighbourhood level.