The Neighbourhood Effect Revisited: Spatial Science or Political Regionalism?

Abstract

The neighbourhood effect in voting studies is defined as the concentration of votes for a party in a place which is greater than expected. It is usually accounted for as the consequence of biased flows of relevant information through local social networks, and no reference is made to the role of political parties in the manipulation of those flows and networks. Such a role was referred to in pioneer geographical studies, but has largely been ignored since, apparently because it does not readily fit into the spatial science paradigm. It is argued that the agenda-setting role of parties and the importance of local organisation are crucial influences on voting patterns. Parties are embedded in local cultures and are involved in their creation.