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A Window on the (Changing) Neighbourhood: The Role of Pubs in the Contested Spaces of Gentrification
Author(s) -
Ernst Olaf,
Doucet Brian
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.766
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1467-9663
pISSN - 0040-747X
DOI - 10.1111/tesg.12071
Subject(s) - gentrification , neighbourhood (mathematics) , ambivalence , sociology , immigration , economic geography , gender studies , geography , political science , economic growth , social psychology , psychology , law , mathematical analysis , mathematics , economics
This paper examines the effects of gentrification through the lens of the interactions and perceptions which can be found in local, neighbourhood pubs. By interviewing predominantly D utch, non‐gentrifying customers in the rapidly gentrifying Indische Buurt neighbourhood in Amsterdam, we uncovered discourses which are both welcoming to, and cautious of the process. Three themes were examined: changes in the neighbourhood, changes in the role of pubs in daily life and changes in the interactions within pubs. In many respects, the process of gentrification is welcomed because it represents something ‘ D utch’ coming into the neighbourhood after years of immigration. Divisions between gentrifiers and non‐gentrifiers are not experienced as starkly as is often portrayed in the literature; our respondents tended to be much more ambivalent than other non‐gentrifying groups portrayed in studies elsewhere. This may be due to the more managed‐nature of D utch gentrification. However, there is a sense that one's pub is impervious to the changes in the rest of the neighbourhood, a discourse which must be taken into account when drawing any long‐term conclusions from this study.