Peripheralization and electoral geography - PeriGeo

Abstract:

The research project aims to investigate the relationships between peripheralization and electoral behavior. And, more specifically, the impact of the former on the latter.
The project aims to theoretically frame and empirically verify the connections between the processes of peripheralization (both in an urban and extra-urban) and political-electoral behavior. In order to expand the results of this line of research, the project will focus on three areas: a) deepening the analysis of Southern and island metropolitan cities; b) extending it to the municipalities of the ‘inner areas’ as defined by the National Strategy for Inner Areas; c) examining the six Italian parliamentary elections held between 2001 and 2022.
The Project aims to answer three research questions: 1) When and under what conditions did the processes of peripheralization spread within the capital municipalities of the metropolitan cities of Southern Italy (Naples, Bari, Reggio di Calabria, Palermo, Catania, Messina, and Cagliari)? 2) In relation to both the intra-metropolitan cities dynamics and those related to inner areas, it is worth asking: What were the political and electoral consequences of the processes of ‘peripheralization’ observed in the municipalities of Southern Italy? 3) In both urban and inner areas, how important do contextual and individual (compositional) factors play in explaining electoral behavior?
The project examines aggregated data and individual data using quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques. More precisely, the data collection will develop by employing secondary and primary data. In relation to secondary data, two types of data will be collected. On the one hand, aggregated data on the 2001-2022 parliamentary elections at municipal and sub-municipal level will be collected. On the other hand, to consider contextual effects on political behavior, we will collect aggregate data concerning the socio-economic characteristics of sub-municipal areas of metropolitan city capitals. Primary data will derive: 1) from the administration of a survey to a representative sample of the inhabitants of Southern and insular Italy; 2) from in-depth interviews involving inhabitants and representatives of the type of municipalities included in the project.
The results consist of: 1) the preparation of two open license database, hosted on the project website, including ecological and individual information on electoral behavior and socio-economic features at the municipal and sub-municipal level; 2) From a theoretical point of view, we aim with this research project to reframe our understanding of electoral behavior in Southern Italy by combining voters’ individual characteristics with contextual factors embedded in a spatial dimension; 3) The project will also contribute to synergizing electoral geography, electoral studies, and economic sociology encouraging scholars within these fields of research to explore new ways of effective interaction. 

Responsabile Scientifico

Prof.ssa Laura Azzolina

Partecipanti interni

Prof.ssa Daria Mendola