Citizens’ Perceptions in the ‘Geography of Discontent’: The Effect of Place-Based Resentment on Political (Dis-)Trust in the UK

How do perceptions matter in the geography of discontent? It is well established that declining or ‘left behind’ places turn out for far-right parties. In this paper, I study how citizens’ perceptions of how politics treats their place relate to broader system support. Using geocoded survey data from the UK, I demonstrate that place-based resentment is linked to lower political trust. Furthermore, I differentiate between sceptical mistrust—a suspension of trust due to performance concerns—and cynical distrust, a deeper rejection of politics altogether. The findings show that place-based resentment significantly fuels cynical distrust rather than sceptical mistrust. This research underscores the need to study citizens’ perceptions in the geography of discontent. Understanding how and where place-based resentment develops can help mitigate the negative effects of spatial inequalities and foster political support in struggling places.