Peripheralization and Political Behaviour: Spatial Socioeconomic Dynamics in Southern Italy

This open access book examines how socioeconomic distress and geographical marginalization shape political behaviour in Southern Italy, one of Europe’s most disadvantaged regions. This open access book examines how socioeconomic distress and geographical marginalization shape political behaviour in Southern Italy, one of Europe’s most disadvantaged regions. Covering the period from the 2001 to the 2022 Italian elections, it investigates how living in “left-behind” places influences voting patterns, political disengagement, and protest behaviour. Combining political science and economic sociology, the book analyses how structural inequalities—poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion—interact with spatial peripheralization in suburban and rural areas. Using fine-grained neighbourhood-level data and a mixed-methods approach, it links electoral trends with the lived experiences of marginalized communities. The volume introduces a novel framework for understanding how economic, social, and geographical forms of peripheralization jointly shape political orientations. Beyond academic debates, it offers insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to address polarization, strengthen civic engagement, and design more inclusive policies in disadvantaged territories.