Spatial Assimilation of Ethnic Immigrants in European Societies

Anya Glikman, Tel Aviv University
Moshe Semyonov, Tel Aviv University

Most contemporary European cities are populated by distinct-segregated ethnic neighborhoods. Whereas patterns of segregation and spatial assimilation have been studied extensively in American society, research on immigrants' segregation and spatial assimilation in Europe is new. The present research utilizes data from the European Social Survey to examine patterns of spatial segregation and assimilation among immigrants across 13 European countries and the extent to which they are influenced by immigrants' tenure in the host country, socio-economic characteristics, preferences for residential location, and ethnic and cultural origin. The analysis reveals that rates of spatial segregation vary considerably across ethnic and cultural groups with spatial assimilation being lower among immigrants from Asia or Africa and among Muslims. The findings are discussed in light of theories of acculturation and segmented assimilation and the role played by differential preferences for residential location.