Adjacent segregation

Date and country of first publication^[1]

2019
China

Definition

Adjacent segregation in the context of residential segregation refers to the spatial separation of different racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups within close proximity to each other. Unlike more explicit forms of segregation where distinct neighborhoods are completely isolated from each other, adjacent segregation implies that neighborhoods or areas inhabited by different groups are geographically adjacent but remain socially and culturally segregated.

This form of segregation can manifest in several ways:

Block-by-Block Segregation: In some cases, neighborhoods may be racially or socioeconomically homogeneous at the level of individual blocks or streets, with little diversity within each block. However, adjacent blocks may be inhabited by different groups, leading to a checkerboard pattern of segregation.

Gentrification and Displacement: In gentrifying neighborhoods, newcomers of higher socioeconomic status may move into a previously low-income area, resulting in adjacent segregation where new upscale developments coexist with existing lower-income housing.

Subdivision Segregation: Residential developments or subdivisions may be segregated by design, with certain areas allocated for specific racial or socioeconomic groups. In some cases, these subdivisions may be adjacent to each other but remain socially segregated.

Informal Social Boundaries: Even in mixed neighborhoods, informal social boundaries may exist that discourage interaction between different groups, leading to de facto segregation despite physical proximity.

Adjacent segregation can perpetuate social inequalities and limit opportunities for interaction and social cohesion between different groups within a community. It underscores the complexity of residential segregation, which can occur even in settings where physical proximity might suggest integration.

Related segregation forms

Adjacent segregation is frequently discussed in the literature with the following segregation forms:

social segregation

This visualization is based on the study The Multidisciplinary Landscape of Segregation Research.

For the complete network of interrelated segregation forms, please refer to:

First year of publication

Louvain clusters

Betweenness centrality

Disciplines in which segregation forms first emerged (Scopus database).

References

Notes

↑ Date and country of first publication as informed by the Scopus database (December 2023).

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