The role of social capital in urban desegregation processes

Abstract

The role of social capital in the life of extremely poor, stigmatized, segregated communities, including Roma communities in the CEE Region is a well-documented phenomena. Bonding capital is on one hand limits social mobility, while on the other it provides essential resources for community members, while bridging relations are generally scarce. However, lot less is known about the role social capital plays in the success of policies aimed at social mixing – especially in case of segregated Roma communities. How social capital influences such processes and vice versa: how social capital is influenced by policies aimed via social mix-orientated policies, and how these relates to the well-being of the affected population, are undiscovered questions. Within present study we aim to answer the aforementioned questions, based on the case of a Hungarian urban Roma segregate that is affected by a social mix orientated desegregation policy. Our results are based on qualitative data (including interviews and observation) that we collected during a long-ongoing participatory action research process (PAR). Our results show that social capital plays a crucial role both concerning (1) the actual realization of social mix, and (2) the impact of mixing-policy on the well-being of stakeholders. Neither the come into being of socially heterogeneous neighbourhoods, nor increased well-being are automatic consequences of mixing-policy, and both of these are heavily affected by the characteristics of the social capital of stakeholders.