Abstract

Some theoretical contributions to the Media Literacy set up the dialogue, the exchange and the renegotiation of meanings as a starting point for interaction and knowledge. In all these approaches, the environment becomes a vital factor, because in its position we find the social interrelations and the possibility of learning in a collective and/or community way. In our societies, media are holding a big space in people’s social sphere. At the same time it is acquiring more critical competence towards contents reception, the knowledge and the use of media skills bring new languages to the citizenship to explore its surroundings, promoting the mutual knowledge and the social cohesion, keys for social change.

Abstract

This book is one of the outcomes of the DIVERCITIES project. It focuses on the question of how to create social cohesion, social mobility and economic performance in today’s hyper-diversified cities. The project’s central hypothesis is that urban diversity is an asset; it can inspire creativity, innovation and make cities more liveable and harmonious. To ensure a more intelligent use of diversity’s potential, a re-thinking of public policies and governance models is needed.

Abstract

This book is one of the outcomes of the DIVERCITIES project. It focuses on the question of how to create social cohesion, social mobility and economic performance in today’s hyper-diversified cities. The project’s central hypothesis is that urban diversity is an asset; it can inspire creativity, innovation and make cities more liveable and harmonious. To ensure a more intelligent use of diversity’s potential, a re-thinking of public policies and governance models is needed.

Abstract

This book is one of the outcomes of the DIVERCITIES project. It focuses on the question of how to create social cohesion, social mobility and economic performance in today’s hyper-diversified cities. The project’s central hypothesis is that urban diversity is an asset; it can inspire creativity, innovation and make cities more liveable and harmonious. To ensure a more intelligent use of diversity’s potential, a re-thinking of public policies and governance models is needed.

Abstract

This book is one of the outcomes of the DIVERCITIES project. It focuses on the question of how to create social cohesion, social mobility and economic performance in today’s hyper-diversified cities. The project’s central hypothesis is that urban diversity is an asset; it can inspire creativity, innovation and make cities more liveable and harmonious. To ensure a more intelligent use of diversity’s potential, a re-thinking of public policies and governance models is needed.

Abstract

Diverse neighbourhoods represent significant opportunities for different forms of entrepreneurship, which can contribute to their economic regeneration. This policy brief focuses on entrepreneurship in deprived and diverse neighbourhoods. It discusses the relations between diversity and entrepreneurship and presents evidence on the connections between entrepreneurship, diversity and economic performance, and the role of entrepreneurship on social cohesion. It argues for revising existing policies related to the different forms of entrepreneurship in diverse and deprived neighbourhoods, as well as for new measures to support entrepreneurship.

Abstract

variety of local governance arrangements and initiatives exist in urban neighbourhoods that use diversity in a positive way and aim to improve the social and economic conditions for its residents. This policy brief focuses on such arrangements. It calls for an increase in sustainable and flexible support for bottom-up arrangements that fill the gap between official urban policies and the needs of the population.

Abstract

Policy makers worry about the negative impact of the concentration of disadvantaged groups and minority ethnic groups on social cohesion in deprived neighbourhoods. A popular response has been to diversify the housing stock as to house more households with a higher socioeconomic position, which in practice are mostly white Dutch. A large body of research has assessed these interventions and has not found clear evidence for the intended results: when it comes to local social networks, lower and higher income groups and ethnic communities are often found to live parallel lives. However, the recent academic literature on super-diversity and hyper-diversity suggests that these studies might not grasp the full picture: urban societies are becoming diverse in ever more complex ways, not only in terms of ethnicity and class, but also regarding activity patterns, households types, cultures, lifestyles and identities. There is an increase in diversity within traditional demographic categories as well. This poses important challenges for conducting research, particularly research on social perceptions and relations. Scholars have only recently started to study what complex urban diversity means for questions of social cohesion. Much remains unclear about how people in highly diverse neighbourhoods perceive, experience and practice local diversity. This study attempts to provide insight. It examines how residents of deprived neighbourhoods face the challenges of living among diverse others and how they seize the opportunities for positive relations across differences. The study does not focus on ethnic and income diversity a priori. Rather, it adopts a comprehensive approach to diversity. The research results refute the dominant understanding in academia and policy that diverse deprived areas lack social cohesion.

Abstract

In this article the relationship between two broad concepts will be explored. The first concept is social sustainability, a concept still in discussion. The second concept is smart mobility, a new concept, related to IT- related mobility options and solutions. How social sustainable is smart mobility ? This article offers a clarification of both concepts and of the relationships between the concepts. The conclusion is that whether smart mobility will be social sustainable depends on the route smart mobility will take; only related to cars, and to higher segments of the fleet, or broader in scope and more related to mobility services. Keywords social sustainability; smart mobility; mobility services; equity; accessibility; social cohesion