On the Importance of Local Identity in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods

• In Event: Where We Live: How Neighborhoods Shape Civic Engagement

Abstract

In cities across the European continent, first and second-generation immigrants of non-Western origin have clustered in specific neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are regularly disadvantaged in terms of crime rates, levels of unemployment, social security dependency, life expectancy and other characteristics associated with wellbeing and prosperity. In this paper, we direct attention to the need for societies to ensure that people living in these underprivileged areas develop pro-social attitudes that facilitates integration and social inclusion. The paper targets a psychological means that unite people across social, ethnic and other divides – the formation of superordinate identities. According to the common ingroup identity model, emphasizing bonds that unite groups in conflict alleviates the discord between them because individuals who belong to the same group tend to protect, help and cooperate fellow group members (Gaertner and Dovidio 2000; Roccas and Elster 2012).

The primary superordinate identity in the literature on unity in ethnically diverse contexts is the nation state (e.g. Elkins and Sides 2007). Transferring this idea to immigrant-concentrated neighborhoods in Europe, democratic authorities should encourage residents to identify with the rest of the nation. However, from the common in-group identity model, we can also infer that other superordinate identities might facilitate constructive intergroup relations. An obvious additional object for shared identities is the local neighborhood. In particular, if the neighborhood is ethnically diverse – if people from different ethnic groups inhabit it – a common identity with the local community might facilitate the development of pro-social attitudes towards.

The data for analysis comes from an unique multi-lingual, mixed-mode survey panel with residents in two immigrant concentration neighborhoods in Gothenburg, Sweden. There are two major findings from the study. First, both identities have the potential to increase pro-social attitudes (as represented by institutional and social trust). Second, identification with the local community primarily affects trust in local actors whereas identification with the nation influences trust in national actors. That is, different superordinate identities affect trust at different societal levels. An additional important finding is that identification with the local community and the nation state are unrelated. Overall, thus, superordinate identities appear to function as expected, with different superordinate identities working as complementary means to generate pro-social attitudes.

Authors

• Peter Esaiasson, University of Gothenburg

• Jacob Sohlberg, University of Gothenburg

• Mikael Gilljam, University of Gothenburg