Theorising the causal impacts of social frontiers

The social and psychological implications of discontinuities in the geography of residential mix

Bibliographic Data

ID10863630
AuthorsAarti Iyer (0000-0001-7788-6709, The University of Sheffield, UK), Gwilym Pryce (0000-0002-4380-0388, The University of Sheffield, UK, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume61
Issue5
Pages782-798
Publication date2024-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueUrban Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0042-0980 • E-ISSN: 1360-063X
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00420980231194834
OpenAlexW4388021587
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited54

Until very recently, the question of how residents might be affected by the gradient of neighbourhood boundaries – whether these boundaries are abrupt or gradual – has remained largely absent from mainstream segregation research. Yet, theoretical and empirical findings emerging from recent studies suggest the impacts could be profound and far-reaching. This article seeks to provide a conceptual foundation for understanding such effects. We focus on the concept of ‘social frontiers’: spatial discontinuities in the geography of residential mix which occur when community boundaries are abrupt. Drawing on insights from cognate disciplines, we develop a theory of social frontier impacts that articulates their potential importance in limiting and shaping contact between neighbouring communities, exacerbating territorial conflict and ultimately affecting the psychological wellbeing and life course outcomes of those living at the frontier. We present our thesis as a series of propositions and corollaries, and reflect on the implications for empirical research

Economic geography · Economics · Empirical research · Epistemology · Frontier · Geography · Human geography · Mainstream · Neighbourhood (mathematics · Political science · Positive economics · Social science · Sociology · Place Attachment and Urban Studies · Urban Transport and Accessibility · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies

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