Murdie and Teixeira 2000 The City as Social Space

Chapter 9: The City as Social Space

• Authors: Robert A. Murdie and Carlos Teixeira

• Source: T. Bunting and P. Filion (eds) (2000), Canadian Cities in Transition, Oxford University Press.

Focus of the Chapter

• Examines the city as a social space with a focus on the social mosaic of Canadian cities.

• Analyzes changing residential differentiation patterns and processes creating these patterns.

• Empirical examples primarily drawn from Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

• Highlights the importance of smaller urban areas, albeit with a focus on large metropolitan centres due to research prevalence.

Two Spatial Scales of Analysis

National Level

• The social mosaic reflects the wider society's traits and transitions.

• Significant trends include:

  • Economic restructuring

  • Changes in age and family structure

  • Immigration impacts

• Globalization processes affect national trends with limited local government control.

Urban Level

• Investigates social differentiation within cities and its evolution over time.

• Understanding of the urban mosaic based on:

  • Spatial distribution of social groups using census data.

  • Decisions made by households influenced by income, built form, and housing information.

  • Emphasizes intra- and inter-group variations in residency behavior and constraints.

Transitional Shifts in Social Geography

• Reflects shifts from modern to post-modern societies.

• Highlights:

  • Increased societal fragmentation

  • Emergence of a complex urban social mosaic

• Questions the effectiveness of early 20th-century spatial models to interpret current urban complexities.

Chapter Structure

Overview of Societal Trends

• Initial section presents trends that affect intra-urban social space.

Discussion of Emerging Social Mosaic

• Focuses on the nature and spatial distribution of social groups in urban areas.

Dynamics of Income Polarization

• Examines the potential existence of an underclass in major metropolitan areas.

Changing Geography of Ethnicity

• Explores implications of increased internationalization of Canada's immigrant population.

Post-World War II Societal Trends Influencing Socio-Spatial Dimensions

Four Key Societal Trends

1. Economic Restructuring

   • Decline in manufacturing jobs and rise in service sector employment.

   • Impact of trade agreements (e.g., NAFTA) and economic recessions.

   • Shift in economic opportunities and potential inequalities.

2. Changes in Age Structure and Household Formation

   • Decrease in children and youth population; increase in elderly (64+ years).

   • Variances in age-specific migration (e.g., elderly to Victoria, youth to Calgary).

   • Fragmentation of living arrangements and diversification of family structures.

3. Increased Internationalization of Population

   • Shift from Euro-centric immigration to a more diverse origin (Asia, Africa, Caribbean, Latin America).

   • Changes have resulted in varied immigrant settlement patterns and socio-spatial dynamics.

4. Retrenchment of the Welfare State

   • Declining support impacts vulnerable groups (unemployed, single-parent families, refugees).

   • Resulting challenges in economic mobility and social integration.

Emerging Social Mosaic of Canadian Cities

Traditional Models of Social Mosaic

• Early models posited a three-tier structure based on economic, family, and ethnic status.

• More recent studies suggest increased complexity beyond this model, with multiple dimensions arising from various socio-economic factors.

Inter-City and Intra-City Variations

• Examination reveals:

  • Distribution of high-status and low-status census tracts varies significantly by city and social dimension.

  • Factors such as demographic trends and historical context influence spatial patterns.

Dynamics of Social-Spatial Polarization

Income Inequalities

• Examines rising income disparities in urban centers and implications for a potential underclass, similar to U.S. contexts.

• Increase in socio-economic segregation within metropolitan areas.

Changing Geography of Ethnicity

'Ethnicities' and 'Ethnoburbs'

• Diverse immigrant experiences shape spatial segregation in urban areas.

• Highlights:

  • Increase in ethnic diversity leading to the formation of distinct neighborhoods.

  • Variability in immigrant settlement patterns based on socio-economic conditions.

  • Recent shifts towards suburbanization of immigrant populations.

Conclusion

• The socio-spatial structure of Canadian metropolitan areas will continue evolving influenced by economic, demographic, and immigration trends.

• It is crucial for policymakers to address socio-economic disparities and improve life chances for vulnerable communities within these urban landscapes.