Abstract
This article provides a comparative analysis of gentrification processes and their displacement effects in European cities. Through case studies of neighbourhood change in Berlin, Bucharest, and Istanbul, the study examines how urban renewal transforms social geographies and displaces long-standing communities.
Key Findings
- Gentrification in Central-Eastern European cities follows different trajectories than in Western European contexts
- State-led gentrification is more prevalent in post-socialist cities than market-driven gentrification
- Displacement takes multiple forms including direct displacement, exclusionary displacement, and cultural displacement
- Resistance to gentrification takes diverse forms including legal challenges, community organising, and cultural activism
Methodology
Comparative neighbourhood case study analysis combining census data analysis, housing market data, ethnographic observation, and interviews with displaced and at-risk residents.
Implications
The article argues for urban policies that balance neighbourhood improvement with protections against displacement, including tenants’ rights strengthening, affordable housing provision, and community-led planning approaches.
