Left Out and Let Down: Exploring the Dynamics of Perceived Social Exclusion and Trust in Democratic Institutions in The United Kingdom

This thesis explores the relationship between perceived social exclusion and trust in democratic institutions within the United Kingdom, paying special attention to the effects of identity-based marginalisation. The study is rooted in the desire to understand the implications of the sociopolitical climate in the United Kingdom on their marginalised communities. The research question guiding this thesis is: How does perceived social exclusion impact individuals trust in national institutions in the United Kingdom? The study draws on theories of social exclusion and political radicalisation and employs a quantitative design to analyse data from the Drive survey. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to establish the predictive power of community belonging and perceived exclusion on trust in democracy, including controls for demographic and identity-based variables. The finding indicate that perceived exclusion is a significant negative predictor of trust in democracy,...Show moreThis thesis explores the relationship between perceived social exclusion and trust in democratic institutions within the United Kingdom, paying special attention to the effects of identity-based marginalisation. The study is rooted in the desire to understand the implications of the sociopolitical climate in the United Kingdom on their marginalised communities. The research question guiding this thesis is: How does perceived social exclusion impact individuals trust in national institutions in the United Kingdom? The study draws on theories of social exclusion and political radicalisation and employs a quantitative design to analyse data from the Drive survey. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to establish the predictive power of community belonging and perceived exclusion on trust in democracy, including controls for demographic and identity-based variables. The finding indicate that perceived exclusion is a significant negative predictor of trust in democracy, while community belonging is indicated to have a positive but relatively weaker effect. The aforementioned results highlight how exclusion rooted in group-identity can erode trust in political systems. These implications are discussed in accordance with contemporary debates on democratic resilience, political activity, and the psychosocial consequences of exclusion. Highlighting the need to address social exclusion as both a concern for democracy as well as a precondition that may foster anti-system sentiment and political extremism. To further explore this, more in-depth research on experiences behind the perceived social exclusion is necessary to establish where intervention is needed.Show less

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Left Out and Let Down: Exploring the Dynamics of Perceived Social Exclusion and Trust in Democratic Institutions in The United Kingdom