Post-Empowerment: A qualitative fieldwork study in the Indische buurt of Amsterdam on how active people within the community shape their neighbourhood after the Empowered Neighbourhoods Program finished.

Abstract

Neighbourhoods are important places for their residents and get increasing attention from governments for executing social policies. This is especially relevant as the Dutch government has over time been investing more and more in deprived neighbourhoods in order to tackle social issues. In context of the participation society, the government expects residents to be active within their own community. Therefore, they involve neighbourhood initiatives and its active residents to help tackle such social issues. We know that areas hit by urban renewal programs, such as the Empowered Neighbourhoods Program, are afterwards seen as flourishing. The Indische buurt in Amsterdam is such a neighbourhood and both seen by the council of Amsterdam as well as its residents as a neighbourhood to be proud of. However, what we do not know is what exactly happens to the neighbourhood as a renewal program ends and less resources are once more available. This paper will look at this specifically within the context of people owning or active within a neighbourhood initiative. What role do they play within their community? How do they relate to each other? What behaviour do they show? A qualitative ethnographic fieldwork study was conducted in order to ascertain how these active participants shape the Indische buurt after the Empowered Neighbourhoods Program finishes. Merton’s Strain Theory and Agnew’s General Strain Theory were used to get an understanding of the field and its active participants. This paper will show that certain people have more opportunities for being successfully active within the neighbourhood. Next to personal consequences, such as being excluded, feeling unvalued and experiencing competition, on a bigger scale this leads to division within the neighbourhood and less faith in local authorities. These consequences are contrary to the councils social policies for the neighbourhood.