URBAN SEGREGATION: A Theoretical Approach

Social-spatial segregation has been one of the most studied issues within the area of urban studies for nearly one century. The word segregation itself has to do with the idea of the separation of certain social groups within the space of societies. It can be considered as a consequence or manifestation of social relations that are established and based on social structure, stratification, rules and conduct codes in place then. In fact, spatial segregation expresses a larger concentration of a social group in a certain city area. As regards residential segregation, the possibility of having access to land in different places and at different prices also has to be considered. At first, the term ‘segregation’ may seem to refer to a self-explanatory phenomenon that requires no definition, for the social division of territory has existed in all cities and villages since remote times in history. A more careful look, however, allows us to note that every social division of space expresses forms of segregation and that the use of this term as a concept depends on the theory adopted to explain the phenomenon. This paper intends to present the main theoretical approaches regarding urban segregation. It also aims at highlighting the importance of studying the spatial segregation process in order to understand social-inequality manifestations in the city areas. Thus showing how intimately related both processes are. This reflection has been led by some questions: