Segregación residencial, concepciones espaciales subjetivas y xenofobia en Sevilla. Determinando el umbral para la intervención social

Abstract

The evaluation of residential segregation of foreigners has been traditionally focused on the analysis of localization, distribution and concentration of foreigners’ populations within urban areas. Nevertheless, those parameters alone are poorly useful to uncover the social consequences associated to residential segregation. Here, we have studied spatial segregation to identify a threshold from which social intervention should be required to properly manage ethnic and cultural diversity. Based on the people’s attitudes toward the foreigners, we have investigated the relationship between segregation and xenophobia. We have found that residential segregation is caused, not only by economic and housing factors, but by subjective social and spatial factors tightly related with the appearance of xenophobia. Such a phenomenon is crucial to analyze how citizens themselves generate the social image of segregated areas. Indeed, the generation of that image is a key element to initiate and to develop the segregation process. Particularly in Seville, our methodology have identified three different segregation types. Neighborhoods where the foreigner is clearly segregated, marginal and segregated neighborhoods and neighborhoods where the foreigner turns out to be invisible.