Analysing Pilsen Mexican neighbourhood in Chicago through the lens of competitiveness and social cohesion

The main aim of this paper is to document the complex relationships between competitiveness and social cohesion. These relationships are illustrated via a case study of the Pilsen Mexican neighbourhood in the city of Chicago. The Pilsen neighborhood has been part of the city since its incorporation in 1837 and lies approximately three miles southwest of Chicago’s lakeside downtown district, known as the “Loop”. The fieldwork upon which this article is based was conducted using qualitative research methods. Specific methodologies used include semi-structured interviews, collection of photographs and document analysis (drawing from both academic and public policy documents). As observed in the Pilsen case study, Chicago drew on a variety of urban policies (ranging from festival funding and neighborhood tours to the crafting of TIF zones) with the aim of achieving enhanced revenues via cultural planning and urban regeneration. While these strategies have activated gentrification and beautification, they are also driving out low-income inhabitants who can no longer afford rising rents. These development strategies aim to achieve the competitiveness goals, but have met with less success in achieving the social cohesion goals. In such processes, Pilsen local ethnic communities are not passive , but via civic enterprises or cultural institutions, economically struggling minority communities have not only registered their disappointment but have organized protests attempting to push back against top-down planning. As the Pilsen case suggests, even though competitiveness is often unable to reinforce social cohesion, new emergent actors appears to offer a promising avenue towards safe-guarding social cohesion and capacity building