The exclusion of part of society from ‘any of the social, economic, political and cultural systems which determine the social integration of a person in society’ (A. Walker and C. Walker 1997). Kenyon et al. (2003) J. Transp. Geog. 10, 3. see social exclusion as ‘the denial of access, to an individual or group, to the opportunity to participate in the social and political life of the community, resulting not only in diminished material and non-material quality of life, but also in tempered life chances, choices and reduced citizenship’.

Social exclusion is a more complex concept than poverty: the Transport Research Group notes that ‘it is possible to be excluded without experiencing poverty; and it is possible to experience poverty, yet feel included’. Exclusion may come about through a combination of problems such as income poverty or unemployment; geographical isolation or reduced accessibility to social networks, facilities, goods, and services unemployment; poor housing; high crime environments; family breakdown; or the denial of citizenship rights and freedoms. See the DFID Policy Paper Reducing Poverty by Tackling Social Exclusion. Try the Social Exclusion Literature Review 2008.