Not in my 'hood: social control, ethnicity, and crime in Seattle's international district

Abstract

Current theories regarding collective efficacy may not effectively capture neighborhood social organization in some ethnic neighborhoods. In particular, current definitions of collective efficacy neglect the powerful influence of nonresidents who may also "take ownership" in the neighborhood despite not living there. The presence of these "neighborhood adoptees," defined as non-residents, who identify with and claim the neighborhood as their own, augments predicted low levels of collective efficacy. Through an analysis of data collected from the "Seattle Neighborhoods and Crime Survey" as well as ethnographic interviews of residents, business owners, and neighborhood adoptees in Seattle's International District, this paper demonstrates that culture and ethnic identity are key elements that often lead Asian American neighborhood adoptees to take ownership and participate in a neighborhood that they do not reside in. In turn, the ubiquitous presence of these neighborhood adoptees results in an increase of collective efficacy that normally is unmeasured in surveys. This study further describes the manner in which neighborhood adoptees affect social control and social cohesion in the neighborhood.