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This article discusses variations in the experiences of Dutch identity and belonging to a music‐making group in the Dutch migrant community in Melbourne, Australia. It answers the research question “Which variations of ‘Dutch identity’ are there for the participants and how does music‐making relate to this?”. Feelings of identity and belonging are shaped by federal policies and micro‐interactions. This article builds on the concepts related to migrant identity and ethnomusicology in the context of two distinct federal integration policies: the White Australia policy (which is characterised by an assimilation policy) and multiculturalism. The findings showed that community music has the potential to bridge generational, gender and class differences. Multiculturalism, enabling the participants to meet and sing in Dutch, empowered them to explore their dual identity as Dutch Australians, intersecting with disability, racial differences, age and education level. This study improves our understanding of the impact of diverse emigration and immigration resettlement policies that form part of the complexities of diverse generations and backgrounds of the Dutch‐Australian diaspora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the concept of conviviality: the practice and negotiation of sharing space in suburbs with diverse populations. Australia has a growing Muslim population and reports of Islamophobia remain widespread. While there is some evidence, however, that forming intercultural connections can foster more positive attitudes toward religious minority groups, we know little about how Muslim and non‐Muslim communities share space in Australia. This paper presents the findings of a qualitative investigation into how conviviality is perceived in Australian suburbs with high concentrations of Muslim residents. Following qualitative, thematic analysis of 15 interviews with multicultural service providers who work with Muslims in Melbourne, Victoria, we conclude that conviviality is fostered by a sense of community between people who share similar backgrounds as well as increased opportunities to form intercultural social connections. We discuss the scholarly and policy implications of these findings, with consideration of existing arguments about the practices of sharing space in Australian cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper aims to examine to what extent and why parental involvement as well as characteristics of ethnic school population influence social skills scores (social position, behavioural skills) of students. Design/methodology/approach: The study used the COOL5-18 database (2010) that included 553 Dutch primary schools and nearly 38,000 students in Grades two, five and eight (aged approximately 5, 8, 11, respectively). Multilevel regression analyses were used for analysis. Findings: The findings indicate that parental involvement has a positive impact on the social skills scores of the students; behavioural skill scores are higher in ethnically homogeneous schools and lower in schools with a high share of non-Western ethnic minority students. There is no impact of characteristics of school population composition on social position scores. Research limitations/implications: A possible disadvantage is the way in which social skills and parental involvement were measured. These measurements are possibly negatively influenced by the teacher's judgement of the language skills of the parents. Originality/value: Existing research focuses on the impact of parental involvement and the composition of ethnic school population on cognitive skills. This study shows that parental involvement has a positive impact on social skills. This study also shows that in schools with a homogeneous ethnic composition or a high share of native Dutch children, behavioural skills scores are higher, but social position scores are not impacted.

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9906.2010.00524.x Byline: KARIEN DEKKER (1), BEATE VOLKER (2), HERMAN LELIEVELDT (3), RENE TORENVLIED (4) Abstract: ABSTRACT: This article aims to explain variations in the participation of civic organizations in neighborhood projects. In particular, we inquire into the impact of the social networks of more than 400 local civic organizations on their participation in neighborhood projects in two Dutch cities. Two strands of literature constitute the basis for our arguments. First, there is much research on the determinants of individual participation showing that tenure, social-economic status, and being a member of the majority matter considerably. Second, network studies demonstrate that the structure and content of one's relationships substantially influences successive actions. Our expectations are based on both bodies of knowledge. We survey the civic organizations in eight neighborhoods and analyze the impact of their social networks using multinomial logistic regression models. The results show that the actual number of relations in the network and the density of the networks are positively associated with participation in neighborhood projects. Furthermore, we show that organizations with high proportions of ethnic minorities provide less support, despite their networks. Finally, organizations with many professionals working for them participate more if their networks are taken into consideration. Author Affiliation: (1)ICS Utrecht University (2)ICS Utrecht University (3)Roosevelt Academy in Middelburg (4)ICS Utrecht University Article note: Direct correspondence to: Karien Dekker, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Science, ICS Utrecht University, P. O. Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail: k.dekker@uu.nl.

Despite the scholarly consensus on the importance of civic organizations for the livability of neighborhoods, there are relatively few empirical studies examining to what extent these organizations engage in various forms of political participation to contribute to the quality of the neighborhood. The authors argue that to get a better overview of neighborhood-oriented forms of participation, it is necessary to look beyond those organizations with an explicit focus on the neighborhood and to include newer forms of participation such as coproduction, government-initiated plans that seek to address neighborhood issues through extensive cooperation with organizations. The authors argue that three groups of factors determine organizational participation: resources, engagement, and network position. An empirical analysis of survey data collected in 2007 from 400 organizations in eight neighborhoods in two Dutch cities shows that the impact of resources is virtually absent, whereas concern about the neighborhood and relations to pivotal organizations are positively related to participation. Keywords: civil society; nonprofit sector; voluntary associations; political participation; coproduction; urban neighborhoods; empirical studies; surveys; the Netherlands

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9906.2007.00374.x Byline: KARIEN DEKKER (1), RONALD VAN KEMPEN (1) Abstract: ABSTRACT: The participation of residents in improving their neighborhood, and especially variations in participation between places, has been the topic of research in various articles published in the last few years. What is still missing in these studies is an international comparative perspective, since national differences might be expected to account for at least part of the variation in participation. This article, therefore, includes an analysis of national differences. We assess how much relevance these national differences have in comparison with the influence of individual and neighborhood characteristics. Using multivariate modeling procedures, we address the following questions: To what extent can differences in participation be ascribed to neighborhood level variations (share of unemployed, share of ethnic minorities, share of owner-occupied housing, average experience of problems, share of residents active in a social organization)? And to what extent do national context variables (democratic history, empowerment policy) account for these differences? The findings suggest that both neighborhood and national context variables have explanatory power. The article provides an important starting point for a closer study of the role of national level factors. Author Affiliation: (1)Utrecht University Article note: Direct Correspondence to: Dr. Karien Dekker, Faculty of Social Science, Department of Sociology, Utrecht University, PO Box 80140, the Netherlands. E-mail: k.dekker@uu.nl.

Melbourne's population is culturally superdiverse yet there is little focus on inclusiveness in diverse communities. This article will present a case study of Footscray, Melbourne, Australia, examining the following questions: How do government, service providers and civic organisations in Footscray work to build a more cohesive community? How does a local Facebook group work to create a more culturally cohesive community? The findings are based on fieldwork in a multicultural gentrifying inner suburb of Melbourne, and show that inclusion has a clear spatial component, while place-based social media can reinforce and enhance community participation of culturally diverse groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares media coverage to violent events in Australia and the Netherlands: the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh in Amsterdam in November 2004 and the "Sydney siege", a hostage-taking crisis in Sydney in December 2014. Both events were associated with Muslim perpetrators. We analyse media coverage by three high-circulation newspapers in each country in the week after the events. Our focus is on the public representation of Muslims in the news media, as well as the broader representation of multiculturalism. We find significant differences between the public reactions in two countries. Media reporting was more nuanced in Australia than in The Netherlands, where more negative reporting on Muslims could be found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration and Urban Transitions in Australia: edited by Iris Levin, Peter W. Newton, Christian A. Nygaard, and Sandra M. Gifford, Cham, Switzerland, Palgrave Macmillan (Springer), 2022, 354 pp., €139.99 (hardcover), ISBN 978-3-030-91330-4, ISBN 978-3-030-91331-1 (eBook) This is the first book to provide a look at the broad range of topics related to migration and urban transitions in Australia, it fills a research gap in a very comprehensive manner. I would recommend this book to any scholar that is interested in migration and urban studies and do hope that it will lead to more rigorous and robust research about migration and the need for more affordable housing. [Extracted from the article]

This paper adds to the existing insights into the occurrence, explanations for and experience of Islamophobia in Australia by focusing on contact with the 'other' in suburbs with high concentrations of Muslims. The study was conducted in two diverse and socio-economically disadvantaged localities with high Muslim concentrations in metropolitan Melbourne. A mixed method approach was used: a quantitative analysis of 2016–2017 survey data in two suburbs (N = 301), Broadmeadows and Fawkner in Melbourne's north, followed by local experiences of Islamophobia, drawing from 36 semi-structured follow-up interviews with local residents, while keeping in mind specific local circumstances. It was found that positive contact with diverse neighbours makes people less Islamophobic, but negative experiences makes them more Islamophobic. These findings provide evidence for the 'contact theory' as well as the 'threat theory' in explaining local variations in the levels of Islamophobia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, and especially after the 9/11/2001 terrorist attack on US, an antipathy towards and fear of Muslim minorities in Western countries have increased, forming part of the current widespread anti-immigration sentiment. In this context, the 'religiously visible' Muslims are the most obvious target of negative perceptions, discrimination and other manifestations of 'Islamophobia'. This paper uses quantitative and qualitative data on religious visibility collected through a survey and in-depth interviews in two suburbs with residential concentrations of Muslims in Melbourne, Australia. The two localities, 'Broadburb' and 'Greenburb', have similar proportions of Muslim residents (about 1/3) but the levels of religious visibility differ. The paper discusses perceptions and experiences of being religiously visible in a secular society, and particularly being a 'visible Muslim'. We also discuss perceptions of Muslim visibility by others – non-visible Muslims and non-Muslims – who share neighbourhoods with the visible Muslim minority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various articles within the issue on topics including link between spatial exclusion and boundary-making; impact of diversity on collective civic action; and impact of living with diversity on support for asylum-policy in the Netherlands.

Abstract: The paper provides tentative empirical evidence against Robert D. Putnam's claim that ethnic diversity is a threat to collective civic action, and finds support for Robert J. Sampson's proposition that established organisations foster collective civic action. The aim of this paper is twofold: to describe: (i) the ways in which volunteers and professionals make sense of and understand the multicultural neighbourhood; and (ii) how that impacts on collective civic action in the neighbourhood. The paper takes a small scale mixed‐methods approach (9 semi structured interviews and a small scale quantitative survey (N = 39)), comparing two neighbourhoods with similar characteristics in terms of ethnic diversity and socio‐economic problems. The findings show that problems associated with ethnicity are not the most pressing ones for recent migrants. Instead they struggle with work, housing, a lack of supportive networks, unfamiliarity with the educational system, and language problems. The paper concludes that the multicultural discursive framework is a salutary one for those working and living in ethnically diverse neighbourhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses collective sentiment in media responses to the event known as the ‘Sydney Siege’ (December 2014), focusing on the everyday narratives about nationhood and belonging. The aim of the article is to analyse how a hostage-taking situation, represented as a terrorist act, served to reinforce the boundaries of a national community in relation to Australian Muslims. The theoretical framework draws from Ahmed’s (‘The Organization of Hate’, inEmotions: A Cultural Studies Reader, edited by J. Harding and E. D. Pribram, 251–267 (London and New York: Routledge, 2009)) concept of ‘affective economies’ and focuses on the inclusion/exclusion dynamic working through the lens of emotions. The paper analyses data collected from three high-circulation Australian daily newspapers (The Sydney Morning Herald,The AustralianandThe Daily Telegraph)and one prime-time current affairs television program (ABC’s7.30 Report), as well as government press releases.A qualitative thematic discourse analysis of 151 articles, mediated by NVivo software, provided insight into the ways in which collective sentiment was (trans)formative to narratives about nationhood, belonging and the Muslim ‘Other’. We argue that the outpouring of collective sentiments of fear, compassion/solidarity and grief during the ‘Sydney Siege’ made the everyday experience of the Muslim presence in Australia visible in a public space as well as in the public debate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article explores public reactions to an event dubbed the ‘Sydney siege’, through an analysis of its media coverage. The event, where a Muslim man held 18 hostages in a Sydney café, was closely followed during its 22 hour duration and triggered an avalanche of public commentary. We analyse media articles, political leaders’ media statements and transcripts of press conferences published within the week of the siege. Using NVivo software, we code the key themes arising from the data and employ in-depth textual and discourse analyses of the most prominent themes: multiculturalism, Islam/Muslims and ‘community/solidarity’. Using the theoretical framework of the nation as an imagined community which needs its ‘Others’, we find that the ‘Sydney siege’ lead to emphasising hegemonic ideas of the Australian national identity and values that mark the boundaries of nationhood, community belonging and solidarity. Such ideas placed Muslims precariously at the national margin, applying a simplistic binary of the ‘good ones’ worthy of inclusion into the ‘good nation’ and the ‘bad ones’ to be excluded. We conclude that the public discourse following the Sydney siege affirmed Australian multiculturalism in a broad sense but also strongly implied the Otherness of Muslims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Many studies have examined the impact of the size of the neighborhood minority population on prejudicial attitudes of majority residents. However, few studies have investigated how residents of different ethnic origins evaluate different ethnic outgroups based on the shares of these particular ethnic outgroups in their neighborhood. Based on the belief congruency theory and social identity theory, we propose that the effect of outgroup size on outgroup attitudes depends on the socioeconomic and cultural differences between ethnic groups. Multilevel analyses of Dutch survey data gathered among Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese, Antillean, and native Dutch residents indicate that for most groups outgroup attitudes are not influenced by the share of the particular outgroup in their neighborhood. For some ethnic groups, however, the size of a particular outgroup is associated with less positive attitudes toward that outgroup. Differences in the effect of outgroup size on outgroup attitudes only partly correspond with cultural differences and socioeconomic status differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern society is occupied with the problem of decreasing civic engagement--an important civic virtue. In this context, higher educational institutions are important settings where participation can be learned and fostered. This article seeks to emphasize the importance of spatial organisation in higher education institutions in influencing youth participation. Namely, spatial organisation can foster or hinder civic virtues, such as civic participation and interpersonal trust. In an explorative case study of two universities, the University of Ljubljana and Tokyo Metropolitan University, we wish to illustrate the importance of place in stimulating participation. In our analysis of examples of spatial organisation from the two universities, we pay special attention to the following elements: physical organisation (e.g., building design, design of public spaces) and social/functional organisation (e.g., commercial facilities, recreational facilities). The result is a set of spatial maps indicating the frequency and nature of the use of (public) spaces. To conclude, we discuss spatial characteristics in the context of the increasing consumerism and privatisation of (public) spaces within universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a comparison of HOPE VI and Big Cities Policy in the United States and the Netherlands, we argue that despite major differences in context, there has been a convergence in regeneration strategies in the two countries. In both countries the neighbourhoods look better, are safer and have a better reputation. However, in the Netherlands shopping facilities have improved more than in the United States. In both countries, most of the original residents have a better quality of life after than before the policies were implemented, whether they live on-site or have relocated. However, the needs of multi-problem families are not being met by either HOPE VI or Big Cities Policy. Finally, there is no evidence that the original residents have become more self-sufficient in either country as a result of the regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mainly focuses on the determinants of housing and estate satisfaction in post-Second World War housing estates. Multi-level linear regression models were applied to estimate the impacts of individual, dwelling and estate characteristics on resident satisfaction levels, using a unique dataset from 25 post-Second World War estates in nine European countries. It is concluded that satisfaction with the dwelling is higher for the elderly and residents with higher incomes, and in situations where the dwelling has been renovated and is sufficiently large. The presence of children and a longer duration of stay have negative impacts, and renters are generally more negative than owners. Estate satisfaction is highest among immigrant households or when the dwelling is renovated, and among lower educated inhabitants. Individual characteristics and opinions on the estate are more important than estate characteristics in explaining estate satisfaction. The overall conclusion is that attempts to improve post-Second World War areas may result in new areas, but does not necessarily improve the overall satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past 5 years, several scientific articles have been written on the theme of social cohesion in urban neighbourhoods. In most cases this literature focuses on the loss of social cohesion in these areas. In addition, many problems, such as a declining quality of life, physical deterioration, and social isolation have been related to a lack of social cohesion. Another set of articles has increased our knowledge on urban governance. While this work adds considerably to our general understanding of the changing role of the organization of urban social policy and its effects on neighbourhoods, there has been little attempt to date to analyse how policy-makers experience this relationship. This experience is crucial, because it is the basis of policy practice and action. The first aim here is therefore to analyse to what extent policy-makers experience an effect of participation on social cohesion, although the number of participants is relatively low. The empirical findings show that policy-makers do experience a positive effect of participation on the various dimensions of social cohesion. The second aim of the paper is to explain the level of participation by evaluating the governance process. The analyses indicate that the policy-makers face challenges related to the diversity of the population in the participation process, as well as reconciling different needs within decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, academic interest in residents' participation in maintaining the quality of life in distressed urban areas has risen. Many articles seeking to explain why people participate relate the social networks dimension of social capital to participation. However, according to Putnam's definition of social capital, not only social networks, but also norms and trust give people the tools they need for participation. Other authors concentrate on the relationship between neighbourhood attachment and participation. However, an empirical analysis in which both factors are combined is lacking. This paper describes the combined effect of social capital together with neighbourhood attachment in explaining participation. The findings show that participation is greater for residents with social networks in the neighbourhood, who reject deviant behaviour, and have a stronger neighbourhood attachment. Trust in authorities was not found to have any statistically significant impact on participation. The conclusions underline the theoretical assumption that social capital and neighbourhood attachment form a useful pair of concepts in explaining participation, because they focus not only on what people have, but also on their mindsets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offers a look on the status, developments and problems of the housing estates in Europe in 31 post-Second World War. Problems faces by the urban areas built in the 50 or 60 years before the Second World War; Change in the focus of urban policies in European cities to post-Second World War areas; Overview of the initial findings of the European Commission project Restructuring Large-scale Housing Estates in European Cities (RESTATE).