About the project
‘Left-behind’ places have been central to British politics in recent years, especially since the 2016 referendum. This project will use a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods to explore how some left-behind places in the UK demonstrate greater democratic resilience than others in terms of participation, interest, satisfaction, and trust.
In recent years, concerns have been raised about the democratic resilience of so-called ‘left-behind’ places. This project addresses the puzzle that, in the UK, some left-behind places appear to be demonstrating more democratic resilience than others. Cases will be identified using extensive statistical analysis. Intensive case-study research will be used to explain these cases. Lessons will be drawn for how to promote democratic resilience in the future.
The student will construct a theoretical framework from literatures in geography, political science, and interdisciplinary resilience studies. They will use advanced quantitative methods to analyse official statistics and public opinion data, including construction of indices and small area estimation of public opinion (multi-level regression post-stratification estimation). They will use qualitative methods to complete the case-study work, including archival research, elite interviews, and focus groups. Training in methods will be provided as appropriate.
In addition to the Programme for Interdisciplinary Resilience Studies, the student will join: the Economy, Society, and Governance Research Group in the School of Geography and Environmental Science; and relevant research centres in the Department of Politics and International Relations, including the Centre for Democratic Futures and the Centre for Political Ethnography. Based on their project, the student will contribute insights to these programmes regarding left-behind places, democratic resilience, and related topics like political engagement, efficacy, satisfaction, trust, and resentment.
