ABSTRACT
The main defense that has been put forward for segregation, particularly in the residential realm, is that it allows like-minded people to live together and share life on a daily basis. The important point is to see urban ethnicity, and its correlated ethnic neighborhoods, as forms of social organization that interact and transform themselves in the context of social struggle. Segregation can have here an important role to play in keeping the group united, and also in facilitating political struggle. Generally, the ethnic enclave that is used to justify urban segregation is of the voluntary type. It is assumed that social groups form them somewhat freely in order to nurture the group values, customs, ideals, and sensibilities that define any particular culture. Highly interactive neighborhoods are often found in very poor residential areas, like those of urban Latin America, where many neighbors share or exchange numerous services or activities, such as childcare, transportation, or recreation.
