Do inclusive city branding and political othering affect migrants' identification? Experimental evidence. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Belabas, Warda; George, Bert
• Is Part Of: Cities. Volume 133(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: City branding -- Inclusiveness -- Visual representation -- Othering -- Identification -- Migration -- Experiment; City planning -- Periodicals; Urban policy -- Periodicals; 711.4
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2022.104119
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-2751

Abstract

Abstract: Ideally, people with a migration background identify with the country and city they live in. Such identification is under threat from political discourse on migrants (i.e. othering ). To stimulate migrants' identification, city governments brand their city as an inclusive place to live. We assess the effect of inclusive city branding and political othering on migrants' identification with their country and city. A survey experiment with a unique sample of 463 s-generation migrant youths in Rotterdam shows that the usage of inclusive pictures by the city does not do much to encourage migrants' identification, nor does it mitigate effects of othering. Highlights: The experiment offers no evidence for the assumed interconnectivity between inclusive branding and (city) identification Exclusionary political discourses can lead to second-generation migrants holding stronger to their national identity For city branding to matter, professionals need to go beyond 'narrow' definitions of 'inclusiveness in their brandings. Targeting migrant youth requires awareness about their capacity to reflect and respond to their multi-sided-embeddedness.