From Urban Gridlock to Political Gridlock: How Urban Design Shapes Electoral Mobilization in Developing Democracies

Building on Noah Nathan’s (2024) insight that urban street grids can depress local social embeddedness and turnout, this research would systematically compare how urban design interacts with different electoral systems (e.g., PR vs. majoritarian) to shape political behavior and mobilization strategies. While Nathan focuses on Ghana, a broader comparative approach could examine whether mixed or proportional systems mitigate or exacerbate the turnout-depressing effects of urban grids in diverse contexts. This bridges electoral system research with urban sociology—a connection rarely explored—and could offer new explanations for low urban turnout or unexpected electoral outcomes. The findings might inform how institutional design and urban planning jointly influence democratic participation, especially in rapidly urbanizing societies.

References:

1. Do grids demobilize? How street networks, social networks, and political networks intersect. Noah L. Nathan (2024). American Journal of Political Science.