Segregation and Territorial Stigmatisation in Western European Cities under an identity perspective

Abstract: This thesis aims to explore and compare the segregation and the stigmatisation of inhabitants living in so-called ‘disadvantaged neighbourhoods’ through an identity perspective in the two cities Malmö (Sweden) and Lyon (France). I demonstrate that in addition to income factor, identity participates in territorial stigmatisation and reinforces urban segregation, that is the progressive clustering of certain populations in specific neighbourhoods. Using identity strategies theory, I analyse how urban actors interact with each other regarding the disadvantaged neighbourhoods by comparing two districts, Rosengård in Malmö and Vaulx-en-Velin in Lyon. After analysing how these two neighbourhoods are depicted in official documents, mass-media outputs and by inhabitants themselves, I conclude that the media foster the segregation of disadvantaged neighbourhoods and their inhabitants by broadcasting stigmatising discourse. Nevertheless the stigmatised image on disadvantaged neighbourhoods can also be reinforced by inhabitants themselves through the identity strategies they adopt and through the narratives they identify to and display to the society. City authorities tend to emphasise more the segregation aspect rather than the ‘violence’ of disadvantaged neighbourhoods. I understand their discourse as a way to justify the implementation of urban renewal projects and attract middle-classes towards stigmatised neighbourhoods.