Abstract:
One of the main challenges which modern European cities are about to face in the coming decades are associated with the increasing social inequalities and socio-spatial polarization, which are directly related to the processes of integration. These processes are the result of a continuous interaction between specific spatial patterns and social, economic, political and institutional transformations on one hand, and the behavior of different actors and the options they are provided with, on the other. The focus of many studies is put on the characteristics of the space, which affect the formation of certain opportunities and behavior of the population inhabiting that space, and vice versa – the way the behavior of the population and the social interactions create and reshape the urban space. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the factors exerting a decisive influence on the formation and development of those interactions, as well as to estimate to what extent the new urban realities will affect the different categories of population, their daily spatial behavior, their inclusion or exclusion from the society in time and space. Urban geography, in recent years has focused on research related to the physical spatial structure of the city. One of the issues that relates to this type of research are the areas in the urban morphology occupied by Roma neighborhoods, the factors that influence the formation and spatial development of such neighbourhoods, their location and interaction with the different functional areas of the urban space, the time of their occurrence, the dynamics and changes of their location through different time periods. The first part of the paper represents a review of the literature on the topic, while various theories, concepts and perspectives (of European and American scientists mostly) concerning the factors influencing the formation of different patterns of spatial segregation , have been discussed. Thus, the theoretical basis of the study has been justified. Furthermore, a methodology for studying the factors influencing the processes of spatial segregation has been designed, the methods and approaches to gathering the necessary information have been revealed. A brief characteristic of the geographical location of the Roma “Arman mahala” neighborhood in Plovdiv follows, as well as an assessment of the natural factors for its formation and development. The second part of the paper intends to clarify, grade and analyze the demographic, socio-economic, psychological, political, institutional factors influencing the formation and the spatial development of the Roma “Armand mahala” neighborhood in Plovdiv.