Assimilation and (super?)diverse cities. The case of Amsterdam

Intervention dans le cadre du colloque « L’espace urbain de la migration. Perspectives théoriques et pratiques ».

Abstract

In the recent literature. the notion of 'superdiversity'  has become very popular, suggesting that in majority-minority cities no mainstream exist anymore. Assimilation processes of the past, is suggested, have been replaced by co-existence of indsividuals with very different backgrounds and identities. I will propose not to oppose assimilation and diversity, but to understand how processes of assimilation actually produces the experience of living in a diverse world. I will deal with Amsterdam as the empirical case to make my point, as the urban context where people live together.