IS INTEGRATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF THE EXCLUDED NEEDED?
Saba Golchehr
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future development In order to evaluate the outputs of this thesis, which are the participatory planning proposal and the proposed method and principles, I will return to the aim of this thesis. These aims were: - to redefine the factor of migration in the urban renewal planning system on a national level; and - to define a planning framework in order to be able to receive and integrate new and existing migrants socially and spatially in (the development of) the neighbourhood. In this chapter I will evaluate if these aims are reached by the proposals in this project. First it is necessary to return to the first aim, which was: the redefining of the factor of migration in the urban renewal planning system on a national level. In the theoretical framework of this thesis I aimed at collecting several theories in order to create an understanding of the behaviour of and relations between different cultural groups. The main aim of the sociological part of the theory research was to underbuild the concept of a positive and beneficial ethnic concentration. First some theories were reviewed on reasons of human concentration due to cultural differences. One of the most renowned studies on this stems from researchers within the Chicago School (Park and Burgress, 1925) who linked the human concentration behaviour to the ecosystem in biology (see page 57). Subsequently the relation between governmental policies and ethnic concentration were researched in order to find the gaps in the current national policy. Following this several theories (as Marcuse (1997) and Putnam (2000)) were used in order to illustrate the positive effects of ethnic concentration. One of the conclusions of this theory review is that a progressive integration of ethnic groups is achieved by first strengthening the ethnic groups and their intra-ethnic bonds (see page 58). After the emancipation of these groups they become integrated in mainstream society more progressively by attracting the indigenous population with their cultural appeal and diversity. So the factor of migration should be interpreted as an enrichment instead of a burden. Also in the urban renewal planning this should be taken into consideration. We will return to this planning aspect in the evaluation of the second aim, which was: defining a planning framework in order to be able to receive and integrate new and existing migrants socially and spatially in (the development of) the neighbourhood. In order to find out if this aim is reached by this project’s proposal the question that needs to be posed is: How is the proposed participatory planning approach a good instrument for integration?
The planning proposal is based on the purpose of a progressive integration of the weakest residents in a flexible program. So in order to answer the above-mentioned question we will take a closer look at the flexibility of the program and the flexibility of the overall transformation. First however an emphasis is made on the proposed instrument in this project. The proposed instruments are all facilitators for the empowerment of the weakest residents. In order for this empowerment to function and in order for these people to have a physical expression in their habitat, these instruments need to be part of the municipal program so that they become valid. The governmental program is still recognised in this plan, but at the same time the proposal shows that if the transformation is done in this participatory manner the flexibility and potentials of the transformation are higher. The participation of stakeholders in the public space allows another way of transformation. Instead of creating a confrontation area due to the mixing of different groups (described in the mixing policy of the government) and with that creating more or less ‘no-go areas’, a space of integration is developed in which the confrontation is given shape by positive interaction between the indigenous and ethnic groups. This mixing typology creates a good base for a mixed use program in the area and is also a good base for this kind of participatory planning. Returning to the flexibility of the transformation, which is a key component for a progressive integration in the planning, two scenarios are developed. These scenarios illustrate that the migrant factor is not a burden in the renewal process. On the contrary: by considering these groups in the planning, the aforementioned confrontation condition and its potentials are used and expressed in a way that is positive for the progressive integration of these groups. The flexibility of the transformation by using the participatory planning model is illustrated by two scenario examples. The first example is based on a renewal development in which a high investment is present. This high investment can be interpreted as an external project developer interested in this empty land located in a quite central urban area and interested in the development of a mixed program with the main program of housing. In this case the project developer will approach the municipality for the rights of the land. The municipality will then introduce the project developer to the participatory planning model in which the cooperation with the local stakeholders is facilitated in order to develop a plan for the area. The diagram (figure 12.1) shows this development process and the potentials this process creates for the emancipation of the existing inhabitants.