Place-based Politics and Nested Deprivation in the U.K.: Beyond Cities-towns, ‘Two Englands’ and the ‘Left Behind’

Abstract

Place-based explanations' of politics in the U.K. tell sweeping narratives about 'Two Englands', or of sizeable regions of the country that have been 'Left Behind', reinforcing popular accounts of a North-South or city-town divide. We introduce the concept of nested deprivationdeprivation that may occur in just one housing estate or even one row of flats within neighbourhoods that are otherwise affluent. We report on intensive fieldwork in 8 neighbourhoods varying in relative affluence and density of population (including urban, suburban/satellite, market town or rural village). Three key themes and consequences emerge for those living in nested deprivation in relatively affluent and geographically dispersed contexts: (a) either disconnection from or entrapment within the local economy; (b) social isolation and atomisation; and (c) powerlessness to affect politics. 'Place-based' explanations of rapid and radical changes to political participation in Britain need to take fine-grained geographical distinctions much more seriously. Our study provides evidence that the rising tides in affluent areas are drowning some residents rather than lifting all boats. Where deprivation is dispersed and then nested within mostly affluent constituencies it does not allow for the political mobilisation among communities of interest that is a necessary condition for pluralist representative democracies.

The shadow of the Pithead: Understanding social and political attitudes in former coal mining communities in the UK

“…Meanwhile, however, at lower spatial scales economic deprivation and consequent social ills are evident in a much more widespread fashion, be this in east London, or declining seaside resorts (Beatty et al, 2008;Carrascal-Incera et al, 2020;Boswell et al, 2020).…”

“…Whilst place is far from the only lens with which to view the world, no major event of recent years, from the Great Recession through Brexit, COVID and Black Lives Matter, can be fully understood without considering where and how the people affected live -and with whom. Here, then we have the narrative of 'Left Behind Places', and the debate on how residence in economically peripheral places affects behaviours and attitudes, quite separately to an individual's level of economic success or engagement (Rodríguez-Pose, 2018;Abreu and Oner, 2020;Boswell et al, 2020). Across a number of (largely Western) countries, places can be identified at various scales where local economic conditions are strongly correlated with political discontent, which manifests in votes for challenger 'anti-establishment' or 'populist' parties, as well as general disenchantment with the political process (Stoker, 2006;Jennings et al, 2016;Hernandez, 2018).…”

Housing, place and populism: Towards a research agenda

“…Such dynamics has widened wealth gaps, reinforced perceptions of regional decline and eroded support for a political mainstream that produced such differential outcomes (Ansell, 2019), best exemplified by the decisive Brexit vote in the North and Midlands (Ford and Goodwin, 2017). At a local level, resentments regarding inward migration, competition for affordable housing and services are increasingly evident (Boswell et al, 2020), while support for populist insurgents has grown and forced establishment parties to adopt more populist rhetoric and policy positions.…”

The Shadow of the Pithead: Understanding Social and Political Attitudes in Former Coal Mining Communities in the UK

“…For example, in the UK and elsewhere the economic performance of cities has a distinct north-south flavour (Gardiner, 2020), and amongst NUTS 1 regions, there is evident a strong peripherality-to-London effect that only Scotland avoids (Jones, 2015). Meanwhile however, at lower spatial scales economic deprivation and consequent social ills are evident in a much more widespread fashion -be this in east London, or declining seaside resorts (Beatty et al 2008;Carrascal-Incera et al 2020;Boswell et al, 2020).…”

“…Whilst place is far from the only lens with which to view the world, no major event of recent years -from the Great Recession through Brexit, COVID and Black Lives Matter -can be fully understood without considering where and how the people affected live -and with whom. Here, then we have the narrative of 'Left Behind Places', and the debate on how residence in economically peripheral places affects behaviours and attitudes -quite separately to an individual's level of economic success or engagement (Rodríguez-Pose, 2018; Abreu and Oner, 2020;Boswell et al 2020). Across a number of (largely Western) countries, places can be identified at various scales where local economic conditions are strongly correlated with voting behaviours that are 'anti-establishment' or 'populist'.…”