BUILDING FOR A MULTI ETHNIC NEIGHBOURHOOD (Migrants and decision making in urban renewal)

The research has been carried out in four urban renewal areas in The Hague, Rotterdam and Dordrecht between May 1983 and October 1984. The purpose of the study was to consider the factors influencing the low level of participation in, and involvement with the urban renewal program among the migrant population, i.e. people from Surinam, Marocco and Turkey, and to make recommendations to increase this participation. This article investigates the social relationships in four urban renewal areas as to their significance in relation to the decision-making process. First, the history of the current renewal programmes, in which the multicultural composition of the population has already played an important part, is outlined. There is a brief discussion of the opportunities open to all residents to influence and shape policy. Then attention is given to the ways in which migrants can look after their interests. In principle there are three ways: 1. Through participation in general decision-making process. 2. Through a neighbourhood organization of their own. 3. The possibilities offered by, and the inherent restrictions in these means of looking after their interests are illustrated.