Social structures

Social structures

The marginalisation or exclusion of certain groups or communities can be a driving factor for tensions and polarisation. The lack of equal access to public and social services, including health services, as well as the geographical exclusion of certain neighbourhoods (for example because of limited connections by public transport) have a segregating effect on certain communities. These daily experiences of marginalisation and exclusion can be aggravated by experiences of discrimination, for example in the equal access to the job market or housing, or discriminatory institutional practices (i.e. ‘racial profiling’). When analysing relevant social structures at the local level, the assessment of potential security concerns concentrated in specific neighbourhoods is of great importance. The occurrence of hate crime, drug trafficking or petty crime contributes to residents’ feelings of insecurity that can impact their well-being and physical and mental health.23 Such security concerns and feelings of insecurity can be exploited in polarising narratives. Accessing data about the following issues will provide valuable information about personal and community resilience, public mental health and areas for investment and intervention to reduce or prevent exploitation by polarisation ‘pushers’: Equal access to public services (childcare, schooling, public transport). Equal access to social activities (sports clubs, cultural associations). Security and social/health issues, including victimisation, insecurity and violent discrimination24 .

23- Mental ill-health is not limited to diagnosed conditions but includes sub-clinical, psycho-social impairment resulting from adverse experiences, such as the disruption of ‘life systems’ or ‘pillars’ that characterise secure societies: safety/security, networks/bonds, justice, identities/roles and existential meaning (economic, political, religious, spiritual, other). 24- An act of discriminatory violence is a violent incident which the victim, a witness or any other person perceives as being motivated by prejudice, intolerance, bias or hate, and which may or may not constitute a criminal offence under the valid penal code.” In Efus (2017), Preventing Discriminatory Violence at the Local Level: Practices and Recommendations, p.20.