He's snooty 'im

Exploring 'White Working Class' Political Disengagement

Bibliographic Data

ID4525151
AuthorsNathan Manning (0000-0003-0488-0888, University of Bradford, corresponding author), Mary Holmes (0000-0001-5217-713X, Flinders University)
Year2013
Volume17
Issue3-4
Pages479-490
Publication date2013-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCitizenship Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1362-1025 • E-ISSN: 1469-3593
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13621025.2013.793082
OpenAlexW2028550327
LanguageEN
Citations received19
References cited27

Using a small pilot qualitative study conducted in the North of England prior to the 2010 general election, we seek to understand why our respondents might feel actively disengaged from mainstream politics. It is argued that one major reason is because politicians are seen as lacking understanding of the local contexts in which these low-wage workers live. The gulf between represented and representative is widened if politicians fail to communicate in a ‘down to earth’ way. This indicates that social inequality between represented and representative is a factor in disengagement, but that such disengagement is not the result of apathy on the part of citizens. Further research is required, but our study suggests that if politicians fail to recognise their privilege and politics fails to address economic disadvantage across ethnic groups then disengagement from mainstream politics is likely to worsen

Apathy · Disadvantage · Disengagement theory · Ethnic group · Mainstream · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Gender Studies · Law · Psychology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social Policy and Reform Studies · Social Psychology · Youth Education and Societal Dynamics

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