The geography of discontent: how relative local deprivation shapes political apathy and involvement

Abstract Deprivation has long been associated with lower levels of political involvement, with much of the existing research focusing on individual factors such as socio-economic status. However, the impact of relative local deprivation—how individuals perceive their neighborhood’s socio-economic conditions in comparison to nearby, more affluent areas—has remained underexplored. This article addresses that gap by examining the role of relative local deprivation in shaping political involvement. By conceptualizing relative deprivation in two distinct ways—comparison with neighboring districts and comparison with higher-level areas—I offer a unique perspective on how local inequalities influence political involvement. Using data from a large-scale study in England and Wales (n = 25,001) and the Index of Multiple Deprivation at the postcode district level (ndistricts = 2,290), the results show that residents in areas with higher relative local deprivation are significantly less likely to vote or engage in other forms of political participation. Specifically, respondents from such districts are 1.4–2.1 percentage points less likely to vote, even when controlling for socio-structural factors and (perceived) actual deprivation. These findings highlight the independent effect of relative local deprivation on political involvement, suggesting that individuals in disadvantaged areas become disillusioned when they perceive their district as falling behind neighboring communities. I argue that reducing local inequalities, particularly in deprived areas, could help alleviate political disengagement and foster greater political involvement across all communities.