Understanding the Neighbourhood Concept and Its Evolution: A Review

Abstract

Though the concept of neighbourhood continues to remain relevant both in scholarship and in policy circles, it remains fluid and contested, as there is no agreed definition on what exactly it is. It has variously been defined as a place, a community and a policy unit. This article, which is based on the review of relevant literature, reviews how it has evolved both as an academic concept and research unit and how it has been construed by scholars, in addition to understanding its relevance in policy and research circles. By synthesizing literature in these critical areas, the review provides a condensed knowledge, which help to shape our current theoretical understanding on the neighbourhood perspective.