Perspectives on conflicts and potentials in a changing neighbourhood: Berlin-Neukölln and the role of urban governance
Perspectives on conflicts and potentials in a changing neighbourhood: Berlin-Neukölln and the role of urban governance

Author(s): Manuela Freiheit, Kristina Seidelsohn
Subject(s): Governance, Policy, planning, forecast and speculation, Rural and urban sociology, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: Berlin-Neukölln; urban governance; conflicts and potentials; neighbourhoods; social mixing;
Summary/Abstract: Cities operate more and more like enterprises as they are confronted with an increasing global competition for investments, business locations, fairs and tourism, as well as scientific and creative excellence. On the other hand, economic, political and social changes since the late 1960s have caused mounting social and urban fragmentation which has led to upward revaluation or devaluation of some inner-city districts. Those neighbourhoods are characterized by a concentration of developmental, ecological, infrastructural and socio-economic problems as well as ethniccultural diversity (cf. Franke et al., 2000:244ff.). Based on the assumption that the process taking place in these areas reinforce themselves continuously, many American and European cities developed political programs in the early 1990s to counteract the 'downward spiral' by bringing different sectors of local government and civil society together.

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