STRUGGLING FOR URBAN SPACE: Examining Social Distinctions between Long-Term Residents and Newcomers in Warsaw's Districts

Abstract

This article examines the perspectives of long-term residents in response to the influx of newcomers in two neighbourhoods in Warsaw, Poland. It addresses the crucial, yet understudied, impact of spatial changes on the local population and the diverse ways in which residents negotiate this changing urban context. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu's theoretical framework and its subsequent reinterpretations in the field of urban studies, the article explores the extent to which the narratives constructed by the long-standing residents refer to categories of social class and correspond to their class position. The central question is whether spatial changes lead them to ‘internalize their inferiority’ (Savage, 2008: 161), or if they possess resources that can be mobilized to navigate conflicts arising from urban transitions. Through individual and group interviews with residents from two districts in Warsaw, this research sheds light on how the symbolic divisions between ‘us’ (long-term residents) and ‘them’ (newcomers) are framed. It demonstrates how nativity is transformed into capital, providing the possibility for symbolic dominance. Consequently, it not only enriches understanding of the social distinctions that are made within evolving cities but also underscores the ongoing relevance of Bourdieu's theoretical framework for the study of urban space.