Changing Places CASE STUDIES Flashcards
What are your three main Case Studies for this topic?
- Kingston
- Brick Lane
- Dharavi/Detroit
You need to know Kingston’s impact locally, regionally, nationally, internationally and globally. You need to know the impact of external agencies (decisions of TNC’s), the economic change and social inequalities and past/present importance of Detroit, USA. You need to know how people’s lived experience has changed as well as changing demographic and cultural characteristics in Brick Lane (DISTANT). You need to know people’s lived experience over time, changing demographic and cultural characteristics in kingston (LOCAL).
What is the impact of relationships and connections with economic change and social inequalities on what place?
Detroit, USA
What was the social opportunity from MNC Ford’s influence on Detroit?
Ford Motor Company was the largest African-American employer in the US, contributing to growing ethnic diversity in Detroit.
What were two economic opportunities because of MNC Ford’s influence on Detroit?
In 1914, Ford represented 61% of the booming automotive industry, doubling wages to 5$ per day per worker.
In 1950, when Detroit’s population increased post-war to 350,000, the company created over 296,000 jobs.
What was the environmental opportunity due to MNC Ford’s influence over Detroit?
Oil crisis in 1973 turns American consumers to buying more fuel-efficient car models (e.g. Japan’s Toyota or Honda) rather than supporting American companies.
What was the social challenge due to MNC Ford’s influence over Detroit?
In the 1960s, the voilent 12th Street Riots took place as African-Americans protested being stuck in low-income areas of the city meanwhile many white factory workers were able to move into suburbs.
What were the two economic challenges due to MNC Ford’s influence over Detroit?
The 2008 Economic Crisis prompted Ford to cut 25,000 jobs which resulted in a record-breaking $12.6 billion loss for the company.
In July 2013, Detroit files for the largest municipal bankruptcy in the US’s history. They did recover 17 months later.
What was the environmental challenge due to MNC Ford’s influence over Detroit?
Rouge River served as a dumping ground for Ford factories’ industrial waste - declared the most polluted river in Michigan in 1965. The river has only recently been declared clean (2024) for people to kayak, canoe and walk along - took millions of investment from Environmental Protection Agency and many cleaning efforts.
What is people’s lived experience of past and present and changing demographic and cultural characteristics of a local place?
Kingston-upon-Thames
How has lived experience changed over time within Kingston-upon-Thames?
- Originally, a King’s estate 1066, where multiple Saxon Kings were crowned here. Population was 1500. An agricultural town with 5 mills and breweries; main industries were farming for cattle & wool and fishing - HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
- 13th-15th century, population larger and became port town on Thames, main industries became boat-building, leather tanning and fishing. There was a weekly market and 3 annual fairs - REGIONALLY IMPORTANT.
- Eventually became an impoverished area due to industrial decline, was described as a “rotten borough” in Reform Act of 1832 and had its fairs reduced to 1 - LIVED EXPERIENCE NEGATIVE.
- 18-1900s number of improvements including a created police force to lower crime rates in area and built hospital to improve quality of life for population - LIVED EXPERIENCE IMPROVED.
- 1992 Bentall Centre opened, shifting Kingston to a commercial area. Population in 2020 is 190,000.
What are Kingston-upon-Thames’ changing demographics?
- Lower population growth compared to rest of London with an increae in number of families since all other household types decreased.
- Lower cost of living here than in London; ~20% less in rent, ~10% less in restuarant, ~5% less in grocery prices.
- Significant decrease of Christians in the area but still dominate with ‘No Religion’ group 77% of total.
- Decrease in White Population but still make up 68% of area, increases in other ethnic groups, second largest is 2.2% Indian - LARGE DIFFERENCE.
What is Kingston-upon-Thames changing cultural characteristics?
- Generally focused on its history and local art.
- Many books focused on Kingston’s Anglo-Saxon past, many landmarks around town centre illustrate historical context e.g. the Clattern Bridge or the Coronation Stone. Town centre market has LOCAL IMPORTANCE.
- Art is focused on local talent with many statues on the street which participated in the Sculpture Trail competition such as ‘Party Animal’ statue depicting a bronze goat with a traffic cone on its back. The infamous ‘Out of Order’ sculpture depicts 12 tipped over red telephone boxes. Both are staples in the area.
What is people’s lived experience of past and present and changing demographic and cultural characteristics of a distant place?
Brick Lane, London
How has lived experience changed over time in Brick Lane?
- Post-1666 Great Fire of London, early Flemish settlers set up brick-making industry. Black Eagle Brewery also established and overtook by Truman in 1679.
- Influx of French Huguenot Protestant refugees makes London centre for silk-weaving and makes brewery one of largest in the world, producing 40,000 barrels annually.
- Christ Church Spitalfields converted to Hueguenot Church, later converted into important mosque in 1976 - reflects MAJOR ETHNIC POPULATION.
- 17th century and 1880s sees large influx of Russian Jews which built infamous bakeries, some still present and famous for their biegels.
- Post-WW2 large influx of Bengali settlers working under Jewish tailors and business, eventually taking over and an increase in famous curry houses in London.
- Truman Brewery closed in 1989, now a space for community events such as clubbing, fashion and dining - lots of street art in area ranging from world-famous Banksy to local ‘Cauliflower Man’.
- In summary, lived experience heavily depended on migration into area, dominating culture and work by one ethnic group.
What are the changing cultural characteristics of Brick Lane?
- Area has adapted to different majority ehtnic group in area - shown by change in worship space.
- Features of previous migrants remain - Jewish Biegel bakeries, French Huguenot housing, many infamous curry houses led by Bengalis.
- Now, a modern area focused on street art and fashion, emphasis on LOCAL talent and businesses, with trendy restaurants and fashion.
- Summary: Very clearly linked to patterns of migration!!
What are Brick Lane’s changing demographics?
- Majority population is young adult to middle-aged - strong working population.
- 51.5% is still English but a large Bangladeshi community remains, 38% higher here compared to rest of London. Although population growth hasn’t been significant, there is a pattern of English natives migrating away and immigrants moving into area.
- Muslims make up nearly half of the population (47%), then ‘No Religion’ and a decrease in Christian population. No Sikhs or Jews live here.
- Evidence of deprivation in the area as Tower Hamlets remains in highest 2% of local authoriteis with majority households in social rent housing however also saw 3rd largest reduction in social rent housing in London - risk of GENTRIFICATION.
