SOCIAL POLARIZATION 1971-1991 - A MICRO-GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF BRITAIN

This monograph reports the results of a research project investigating local social polarisation in Britain, 1971-1991, using the censuses o f population. We look briefly as the different approaches which have b een taken towards the study of social polarisation, highlighting the d ifficulties associated with, first, the reporting of complex findings to a media interested in a simple story, and second, the difficulties inherent in the statistical analysis of polarisation. After discussing our methods for the production of comparable census data and our meth odology for producing the graphs and tables, we then go on to present our findings of the existence and extent (or otherwise) of social pola risation in Britain. We conclude with a discussion of our findings, an d briefly suggest further areas for research using contrasting methodo logies.