VIRTUAL: Livable Cities – New York

Abstract

The main thrust of this presentation is to show a parallel world characterized by economic and social distress, stigmatization, rejection, and socio-political invisibility exists alongside mainstream society in the UK. Tottenham (North London) for instance, where the infamous 2011 English riots erupted, has been a London hotspot for decades. ‘Gangs’ are one of the forms of expression of social malaise in those constant reminders of oppression, i.e. deprived urban neighbourhoods. The phenomenon should not be interpreted merely as violence collectives indeed, but as an alternative, subcultural protest movement putting forward the various social demands of a section of the community relegated to the confines of society, within an everlasting context of austerity policies. Young men from sink estates, many of whom are black, end up in ‘gangs’ through experience of socio-spatial and ethno-cultural discrimination. The ‘gang’ gives a sense of belonging, enables to solve the masculine identity crisis, to regain a self-esteem undermined by how non-discredited populations perceive them or by academic failure, to find a role in society etc. Nevertheless, ‘gangs’ feed exclusion, just as exclusion feeds ‘gangs’. I shall contend that the authorities haven’t taken heed of independent studies, which, insisting ‘gang’ members are simply criminals, have highlighted the need to tackle poverty in order to tackle the ’gang’ problem. Their provocative policies accounts for the fact that young people increasingly join such groups.