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. 2014 Aug;48(4):643-662.
doi: 10.1177/0038038513516695.

Diversity and the Civic Spirit in British Neighbourhoods: An Investigation with MCDS and EMBES 2010 Data

Neli Demireva  1 , Anthony Heath  2
Affiliations
Free PMC article

Diversity and the Civic Spirit in British Neighbourhoods: An Investigation with MCDS and EMBES 2010 Data

Neli Demireva et al. Sociology. 2014 Aug.
Free PMC article

Abstract

Recently, there has been a proliferation of studies investigating the relationship between diversity and outcomes such as social cohesion and civic mindedness. This article addresses several common problems in this field and, using data for British neighbourhoods, elaborates on the experiences of both white British and ethnic minority respondents. We conclude that, if anything, diversity should be encouraged to cement the integration progress of migrants and foster stronger identification with Britain in the second generation. Deprivation at the neighbourhood level along with individual factors such as fear of crime is a much stronger predictor of deterioration of the civic spirit than diversity. Bridging contacts have the expected strong positive association with cohesion outcomes; and contrary to policy concerns no strong negative impact is observed for associational bonding among minority ingroupers.

Keywords: cohesion; conflict; contact; deprivation; diversity.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
White British: Summary of Associations between Model Outcomes and Predictors of interest.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Minorities: Summary of Associations between Model Outcomes and Predictors of interest.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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