Ethnic Segregation in Cities: New Forms and Explanations in a Dynamic World

Summary. As an introduction to this special issue on ethnic segregat ion in cities, we offer the readers an overview of the explanatory factors of ethnic segregat ion and spatial concentration in modern welfare states. After a discussion of the disadvantages and advantages of segregat ion and concentration, which can be seen as the impetus behind the widespread interest in this top ic, we will brie ¯ y review some `trad itional ’ theories. That review will be follow ed by a closer look at behavioural theories and exp lanations in which constrain ts are central. The next section will elaborate on restructuring processes, giving special attention to economic change and its effects on cities, groups and spatial arrangements. We will conclude this introduction with a few remarks on the future of ethnic segregat ion and concen tration and outline some possib le direction s for future research in this ® eld