Electoral Geography, Political Behavior and Public Opinion
Research Question
How do geographic factors and spatial context shape public opinion and political behavior?
Main Finding
Geographic context systematically influences political attitudes and behaviors, beyond individual traits. Local composition, proximity to others, and community characteristics are central to understanding public opinion and electoral outcomes.
Research Design
This is a synthetic review essay that integrates findings from political science, sociology, and geography to evaluate how place affects politics.
Data Employed
The paper synthesizes empirical work using survey data, spatial analysis, and multilevel models across various studies of political behavior and geography.
Substantive Importance
This work highlights how political inequality is shaped not just by who people are, but where they live. It provides a framework for understanding polarization, representation, and spatial segregation in American politics.
Research Areas
Electoral Geography, Public Opinion, Electoral Behavior, Geographic Context, Literature Review
Citation
@incollection{political-geography,
author = {Gimpel, James G. and Reeves, Andrew},
title = {Electoral Geography, Political Behavior and Public Opinion},
booktitle = {Handbook on Politics and Public Opinion},
publisher = {Edward Elgar Publishing},
year = {2022},
}