Introduction

In the past decades, major cities increased their global functions and became the core of global movements of goods, finance and human capital. As a result, they attracted people from different origins, ethnic backgrounds, religions and culture. The newcomers tended to settle in a few neighbourhoods where they mixed with people belonging to different socioeconomic statuses, occupations and lifestyles. These diversifying cities and neighbourhoods have received increasing interest in the literature. This is mainly concerned with whether this diverse set of people are able to create a cohesive society that can work towards the wellbeing of all its members, create a sense of belonging, promote trust and offer its members the opportunity of upward mobility (Forrest and Kearns, 2001). In other words, it is focused on social cohesion and conviviality towards others in super-diversified neighbourhoods (Vertovec, 2007).

However, studies of neighbourhood diversity and social cohesion have been inconclusive. A number of studies to date have found that despite differences among residents, communities are able to live together in harmony if they accept and respect the identities of others. Martin Albrow (1997) claims that individuals with very different lifestyles and social networks can live in proximity without improper interference with each other, while Jan Vranken (2004), sharing a similar view, asserts that relationships that are non-conflictual and mutually supportive between diverse groups can be structured at a neighbourhood level. Putnam (2007), however, takes a different view, claiming that the greater the ethnic diversity in a neighbourhood, the less trust exists, leading to even lower confidence in the so-called out-group, but also to distrust within the in-group. Similarly, Amin (2002) argues that finding a balance between diversity, harmonious living and solidarity can be quite difficult. Although there are different views on the role of diversity in social cohesion, almost all of them agree that relations among existing groups with different identities are important in defining connections between diversity and social cohesion.

The existing studies, however, pay little attention to differences in the way others are perceived and defined within diverse neighbourhoods and to the implications of such differences on building relations, solidarity among different groups and mutual trust.