Geographies of discontent: measuring and understanding the feeling of abandonment in the Chilean region of Valparaiso (2019–2021)

Abstract

Political discontent, frequently mirrored in voting patterns, extends beyond ballot votes. By focusing on Valparaiso, Chile, we introduce a more comprehensive measure, external political efficacy (EPE), capturing a sense of abandonment and gauging public sentiment towards the political system’s responsiveness to their needs. Our analysis addresses individual and area-level factors underpinning individual variations in EPE. The evidence suggests that long-term territorial socio-economic disadvantage, rather than low-paid employment, is significantly related to individual discontent, highlighting lowered beliefs in system responsiveness.

Marginalisation and Engagement: Exploring Political Knowledge and Self-Competence Beliefs in Neglected Areas in Contexts of High Centralisation

“…Interestingly, they find some evidence that what they call "low political efficacy" (made up of questions that partly relate to EPE and partly to democratic satisfaction) mediates this relationship. Finally, in Chile, Fierro et al (2024) find that in urban spaces marked by high class-based residential segregation, socioeconomically marginal neighbourhoods are characterised by lower EPE even after controlling for individual characteristics.…”

“…Drawing on recent contributions to the field (e.g. Fierro et al, 2024;McKay et al, 2021;Stein et al, 2021), it is conceivable that place remains relevant even without economic decline, as feelings of social or political marginality alone may suffice to instigate disaffection. Consequently, subsequent sections propose that in highly centralised nations, residing in cities remote from decision-making centres could result in increased political disengagement.…”