Place matters: Analyzing the roots of political distrust and Brexit narratives at a local level

Based on comparative qualitative research in five local authority areas, this article argues that context is key to understanding the roots of U.K.'s crisis political trust and result 2016 E.U. referendum. The competing cultural economic causes discontent suggested by literature were found be deeply intertwined when analyzed from a perspective. sense disempowerment negative attitudes toward migration ingrained reinforced locally specific socio-economic trajectories. These experiences articulated amplified dominant discourses, which channeled frustration against elite populist narratives, promoted Leave campaign tabloid press, became certain decisively shaping citizens' voting behavior. Overall, highlights value studying how interpretations mediate interplay distrust.