Conditional inclusion? Conflicting representations, configurations and encounters in East London

This article utilises Vertovec’s framework on the social organisation of difference to explore how contrasting configurations and representations of diversity within an East London borough contribute to unwelcoming interactions between service providers and newcomers. While East London is celebrated for its diversity and conviviality, its urban spaces–which often serve as arenas for encounters and exchanges among varied residents–can also become sites of tension. Based on ethnographic research, the paper investigates the disconnect between the inclusive image promoted by the local authority and the disadvantaged realities experienced by some residents due to precarious legal status and limited cultural capital. It argues that, as a result, despite public narratives of inclusion, everyday interactions can marginalise vulnerable newcomers, even within services intended to be inclusive. Applying Vertovec’s framework, the article highlights how subtle aspects of difference in superdiverse urban areas can perpetuate social inequalities.