School of Social and Political Sciences
- School of Social and Political Sciences
- SPS seminar series
- I’m Not Bothered
'I'm not bothered': researching political disengagement
- Dr Mary Holmes, University of Edinburgh and Dr Nathan Manning, University of York
- 16 January 2014, 4.00-6.00pm, W/222
- Chair: Tom Wilkinson
Interview with Dr Mary Holmes and Dr Nathan Manning
Seminar recording
Seminar synopsis
A range of quantitative measures show that levels of political disengagement are high and persist across many established democracies. Academic concern with political disengagement has been driven by political scientists, shaping the contours of the debate in particular ways. Sociology has been largely absent from recent thinking about how citizens relate to electoral politics. In this presentation we describe some of our findings from qualitative research exploring political disengagement and dissatisfaction amongst members of the white working classes. The challenges and insights afforded by qualitative methods will also be discussed. We argue that sociology has important methodological and conceptual resources for understanding electoral (dis)engagement. Sociology should be contributing to debates about contemporary democracy.
Dr Mary Holmes
Mary Holmes is at the University of Edinburgh. She has research interests in political sociology, gender and sexuality, intimacy, and the sociology of emotions. She has published numerous articles in these areas. Her books include What is Gender? (Sage, 2007) and Heterosexuality in Theory and Practice (co-authored with Chris Beasley and Heather Brook, Routledge, 2012). Mary is currently writing books on Distance Relationships (Palgrave Macmillan), and on Optimism in Sociology (Sage).
Dr Nathan Manning
Nathan Manning is Lecturer in Sociology at the University of York. His PhD research explored the ways in which young adults understand and practice politics. This work has resulted in publications for the Journal of Youth Studies, Journal of Sociology and Sociological Research Online. More recently his interests have turned to adult political dissatisfaction, and the role emotions may play in political (dis)engagement with work featuring in Sociology, The Sociological Review and Citizenship Studies. He is currently editing a book which explores political (dis)engagement and the changing nature of the 'political' (Policy Press).