Housing Segregation

The systematic problem of housing segregation could not be perpetuated without the racist complicity of individuals (Kenn, 2002). Housing segregation is a crucial issue since inequalities in housing mostly bring about other forms of social and economic or social exclusion. The majority of European countries, to a greater or lesser extent, have some form of residential segregation, which is defined by sociologists as spatial separation of different population groups within a single geographic area. The parts where individuals from a lower socio-economic class are living are usually characterized by mediocre housing, limited or non-existent public resources and institutions, and a long journey to the nearest places of work, education and healthcare (European Commission,

A study is conducted in France in 2004. CVs of several applicants are sent to the employer and it eventually revealed that there is significant discrimination based on the mention of a place of residence series of CVs to employers. This study can be shown as a solid proof for societal prejudices and it is unquestionably not the only negative outcome of housing segregation. It is also inevitable that living in isolated neighborhoods of low-income ethnic communities undermines the long-term life chances of families and children since the access to mainstream social and economic opportunities are cut off. (Rawlings, Turner,

While examining the recent migration, it is important to take into consideration the changing scale and nature of the migration in past decades instead of focusing on current migration patterns. The scale and patterns of migration flows have varied deeply over time and between different European countries that both have short and long-term impacts on the existing population. In 2008, 3,8 million people migrated to and between the EU – 27 member states. (Eurostat, 2011)
With the growth of the labor movement after the First World War, economic crises and unemployment began to lead to political tensions that threatened the existence of the capitalist system. In order to survive, the capitalist system had to aim for continuous expansion and full employment at any price. Therefore labor force from outside was needed since the labor movement in West Europe was strengthened. The solution to this problem that was adopted by the West European capitalism has been the employment of immigrant workers from under developed areas of Southern Europe or from the Third World