- Managing Diversity and developing common ground: The role of urban regeneration initiatives - The case of Hackney, London    344 kb by    Koutrolikou, Panayota - Penny | penny.k@fsmail.net    Short Outline The role of urban regeneration in managing diversity, inter-group relations and in developing common ground in multicultural inner city areas Abstract Managing diversity, namely issues regarding integration, social cohesion and social exclusion, has been gaining popularity both in UK and in EU context, both in theoretical debates and in possible ways of practice. The collage of urban diversity consist of several groups trying to secure an identity, forming relations to other(s) as well as encountering existing political cultures, all in a shared territory. Urban regeneration, especially community and culture-led one, is a strong advocate of living together, of multiculturalism and of the benefits of introducing culture into development. However, although advocating multiculturalism, issues regarding the formation and development of inter-group relations are usually treated under the all-inclusive and superficial diversity imaging. This paper explores the development of inter-group relations, the elements that influence and define them and their connection to urban regeneration initiatives. It goes through current community and culture-led regeneration initiatives in England and focuses on the case of Hackney, a highly diverse inner London borough. Through the case of Hackney, it reflects on the effects of culture-led regeneration and on space and society, especially on the more influential themes for inter-group relations. Furthermore, this paper expresses and questions possible ways of positive forms of integration, as they have expressed though projects, community needs and relations. At the end, it wishes to highlight potential spheres where of developing common ground between differences as a negotiatory way of living together. Keywords Urban diversity, Common ground, Urban regeneration, Social Cohesion Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2004: Management of Urban Regions   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper