A Two fold Absence in Working-class Neighborhoods? Declining Political Anchorage and Relegation in Public Policies

At a time when urban segregation is now well documented, and when close attention is now being paid to the territorial dimension of political behaviour, this article focuses on the representation of social interests in public action and its territorial implications. By examining the issue of public transport services in the working-class districts of Vaulx-en-Velin – one of the poorest municipalities in France – we look at the changing relationship between the local elected officials and neighborhoods where non-voting behavior is in the majority. As elected representatives lose their foothold in these districts, the way in which social interests are represented in urban policies is also changing. In this municipality, the gradual integration of mayors into the urban area government has not prevented working-class neighbourhoods from being relegated to the sidelines of policies. This is largely due to the socialization to the frameworks, tools and standards that circulate in these governing bodies, and which produce a hierarchy of neighborhoods.