Welcoming Neighbourhoods – Conditions of Social Cohesion in Super-Diverse Communities

The research project “Welcoming Neighbourhoods – Conditions of Social Cohesion in Super-Diverse Communities” explores the conditions of social cohesion and conflicts in urban neighbourhoods in Germany: What forms of respectful conviviality are present in German urban neighbourhoods that are characterized by diversity? Under which circumstances do conflicts emerge? Can conflicts contribute to a new understanding of local community, including a new understanding of the “welcoming culture” towards refugees? What causes of conflicts are there and in what way do socio-economic status or intercultural competences of the residents matter?
The refugee migration within recent years partly leads to a sudden increase of diversity of migration narratives, religions, lifestyles and socio-economic backgrounds. In this research project we want to find out how this diversity is received in different neighbourhoods and which factors influence their functioning for the better or the worse.
Against this background the focus of the research project “Welcoming Neighbourhoods” is the question of social cohesion and practices of conviviality within local communities with increasing diversity. For this it is central to find out by which factors the social cohesion is strengthened and what kind of values, norms, experiences and negotiation processes come into play. Therefore, we examine four neighbourhoods within bigger cities in Germany, which differ in terms of socio-economic and socio-cultural diversity.