“It’s a Two-Way Thing”: Symbolic Boundaries and Convivial Practices in Changing Neighbourhoods in London and Tshwane

While there is a considerable body of literature on symbolic boundaries that engages with long-established/newcomer configurations, work conviviality has only rarely taken this angle, despite its general focus contexts immigration-related diversity. This article connects these works by examining insider-outsider configurations between long-established residents and newcomers in two very different rapid demographic change, where the established population already marginalized feels further threatened newcomers. Drawing ethnographic research Newham, UK, Mshongo, South Africa, we advance debates revealing how perceptions inequality, lack civility, reciprocity shape against newcomers, which may, turn, be softened convivial practices. We also consider what differences sites might reveal about enabling conditions for such neighbourhoods.