Changes in population and shopping outlets in Sliema

Abstract

Sliema has gone through several changes throughout the years. This dissertation focuses on the changes in population and shopping outlets in Sliema and how this is affecting its community. Therefore, the study explores the sociological issues that such change brings to a city. These issues are addressed in the literature review to investigate how development favours certain people in society and how it excludes others. These social exclusions do not come through residential differences only, however these also happen through the change in shopping outlets since traditional shops do not only serve as a place for shopping but for socialising as well. Therefore, the literature review ties together how certain social issues are tied together with the change in population and shopping outlets. Furthermore, a qualitative study has been chosen as to gain a deeper understanding as to how these changes are affecting the residents, former residents and shop owners. In fact, in the results this shows that there are many similarities in the participants’ responses as well as commonalities between the themes in the data analysis with the theories in the literature review. Finally, the results show that certain issues mainly the change in the neighbourhood, parking and traffic issues and development are the most common themes that emerged from the participants’ responses.