Rural voices, empty promises? Perceived neglect and political trust in Spain

Spatial inequalities fuel political alienation, yet the mechanisms underlying rural neglect remain underexplored. This article examines the link between perceived rural neglect, place-based identity and national political trust in Spain. Using causal mediation analysis and interaction models on original survey data, results reveal a stark territorial divide. Perceived neglect significantly erodes political trust among rural residents, while urban dwellers remain unaffected. Furthermore, rather than transmitting this alienation, place-based identity acts as a compensatory mechanism. The findings support theories of the ‘geography of discontent’: while territorial grievances are strongly associated with political disaffection, a robust local identification partially offsets the negative association between perceived abandonment and institutional trust.