Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

This project seeks to understand the local politics of social exclusion through analysis of the meanings attached to terms such as social exclusion and inclusion. The objective is to compare and contrast central and local discourses of social exclusion, thereby determining the extent to which local responses to problems of multiple deprivation are framed by political commitments different from those at the centre. The project contributes to a range of literatures on social exclusion, partnership working, central-local relations and agenda setting. The study comprises case studies in two British cities and interviews with a range of partnership actors from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors.

A total of 53 interviews were carried out, 25 in an English city, 28 in a Scottish one. The respondents were members or former members of local partnerships. Respondents were selected from different sectors including the community, voluntary, statutory agency and business sectors.