Immigration, Ethnic Residential Segregation or (vs.) Socioeconomic Integration in Urban Areas

Since the end of the 20th century, the organisation and management of economic markets have increasingly followed the principles of the neoliberal socio-economic model. This paradigm, often applied rigorously and uncritically, has led to profound and lasting transformations in the social and urban dynamics of contemporary cities. Among the most evident manifestations of this processare the growing financialisation of the housing market and the parallel deregulation of housing policies. These changes have not only redefined the economic value of urban space, but have also had direct and tangible effects on the quality of life for large segments of the population. Housing, once regarded as a fundamental right and essential good, has increasingly become the object of speculation and investment, with dramatic consequences for housing accessibility, particularly for the most vulnerable groups. Among those most exposed to the negative impacts of these dynamics are populations of foreign and migrant origin, especially those coming from non-Western countries. Their structurally weak position in both the labour and housing markets often confines them to peripheral and deprived neighbourhoods, where access to essential services, employment opportunities, and social networks is severely limited. This results in processes of residential segregation that are not only spatial but also deeply social and cultural, directly shaping the trajectories of integration and the possibility of building a meaningful sense of belonging in the host society. This Special Issue aims to analyse these dynamics in depth, exploring the nexus between economic policies, urban transformations, and social inequalities. Through a multidisciplinary approach that brings together political economy, urban sociology, and migration studies, this collection invites critical reflection on the consequences of a development model which, despite its apparent neutrality, reproduces and amplifies existing fractures within the social fabric.