1. Place attachment, community cohesion and the politics of belonging in European cities Ranji Devadason (University of Bristol) Sponsored by:

2. Social capital and politics: Walters (2002) The metaphor of ‘capital’ renders the ethical and sociable field ‘calculable’, thereby lends itself to comparison. Links individual and collective orientations with governance. ‘Social capital installs the issue of economic performance at the heart of today’s social project’ (2002: 393).

3. Community cohesion Represents a ‘new localism’ in urban governance (Morphet 2007) Challenges assumptions about the diminishing relevance of place. Perceptions of distance between ethnic categories are thought to undermine the sense of community and belonging upon which civil society depends.

4. Multiethnic European cities Global transformations promote the racialization of socio-spatial inequalities in European cities. London – archetypal ‘global city’ – yet medium- sized, regional cities also characterized by these changes. Comparing London with Lyon, Oslo and Stockholm facilitates analysis of how these cities, citizenship and welfare regimes, and types and phases of immigration, influence minorities’ identification with the places where they live.

5. the analysis Does affective attachment to neighbourhood and city foster an inclusive sense of political belonging in European cities? (i) individual characteristics informing place attachment: ethnic group, gender, age, migration. (ii) Situates the individual, institutionally: in terms of citizenship and employment. (iii) Adds social and perceived distance towards others: trust, minority religion, discrimination

6. attachment to neigbourhoods in comparison with ethnic majority residents Less attachedEqually attached More attached LONDONBangladeshis Indians Caribbean LYON(North African minorities) OSLOBosnians Turkish Pakistani STOCKHOLMChileansTurkish

7. attachment to cities in comparison with ethnic majority residents Less attachedEqually attachedMore attached LONDONBangladeshis Indian Caribbean LYONMoroccan Tunisian Algerian OSLOBosnian Turkish Pakistani STOCKHOLMChilean Turkish

8. Factors informing city attachment NegativePositive LONDONMigrationCitizenship Age Gender Trust LYONMigration Age Minority religion OSLOMigrationCitizenship Gender Trust STOCKHOLMTrust

9. Conclusions Cross-national generalizations do not emerge, therefore: ‘European’ policies which neglect the specificities of local and national contexts are unlikely to be effectual. Evidence supports the relationship between place attachment, trust and political engagement, particularly in London. However, citizenship, employment and perceived discrimination are as – if not more – influential than ‘sociable and normative’ indicators of social capital.