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OT 302: Cities and Regions – on the Relevance of an “Urban-Rural Divide” in the EU
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Cities and Regions – on the Relevance of an “Urban-Rural Divide” in the EU Recent election results in many European countries have revealed an urban-rural divide with progressive cities and conservative rural sides. The local level has been identified to be an anchor point for populist movements (Favero & Zulianello 2023). Subnational elections in countries like Austria and Germany have recently served as a testing ground for coalition-building efforts between populist and/or right-wing forces with the potential to advance to the national level. Moreover, the “Geography of discontent” (Dijkstra et.al. 2019) demonstrated the linkage of Euroscepticism to the level of regional development. On the other hand, cities were - in the wake of the COVID-19 crises - for the first time confronted with far-reaching protest movements supported by regressive and anti-scientific forces. Even more, being a main source of political protest in the past, cities lost this monopoly facing recent farmers protests which originated in rural areas. At the level of attitudes, however, the picture becomes even more complex: recent studies provide mixed evidence for a connection between socially relevant attitudes and “place of residence” (Mau et al. 2022, Donat et al. forthcoming, Thompson 2023). This raises the question whether the dichotomy of the regressive countryside and progressive cities is still relevant or must be treated with a more differentiated view in research. Additionally, ongoing Europeanization challenges the of the validity of such a strict dichotomy in terms of categories in social sciences research and practices of daily life. Where scales (Brenner 2001) are constantly in motion, spatial entities become subject of constant negotiation since they reflect hierarchies and power relations. This panel aims to take stock of recent research on the so-called urban-rural divide in current EU and accession countries. We propose the following (but not limited to) questions for this panel: The urban-rural divide: does it exist or is it a myth? Which other levels and layers like the national, European or global level have to be considered in this context? Which other causes and variables are perhaps more influential than “place of residence” when it comes to societal polarization? Which validity do current categories, indicators and instruments measuring residential background have in this respect? Which lessons can be learned from qualitative research in dealing with these challenges? The subnational level as a precursor of larger social developments and breeding ground for populism and autocracy? Presentations of the Symposium Suburbanization and Urban-Rural Dynamics in the Budapest Agglomeration This paper analyzes the transformative impacts of suburbanization on urban-rural dynamics within the Budapest Agglomeration, emphasizing its role in deepening socio-economic inequalities and political polarization. The study investigates how migration-driven demographic changes reshape spatial hierarchies, redefine governance practices, and intensify tensions between urban and rural areas in the metropolitan region. The findings contribute to broader discussions on the socio-political consequences of suburbanization in post-socialist contexts, providing insights into the reconfiguration of spatial inequalities and regional dynamics. Suburbanization in the Budapest Agglomeration has increasingly blurred traditional distinctions between urban and rural areas, creating hybrid spaces that integrate urban functionality with rural aesthetics. These zones have become contested areas where socio-economic and political identities intersect and conflict. The migration of higher-status residents, often motivated by life-course transitions and aspirations for improved living conditions, has resulted in significant changes in local governance. Newcomers frequently secure influential positions in municipal councils, enabling them to exert considerable influence over decision-making processes. This shift has disrupted established power hierarchies, leading to conflicts over infrastructure development, land use, and resource allocation. Simultaneously, suburban areas in the agglomeration have emerged as focal points for political and socio-economic polarization. Historically aligned with rural political trends, these areas are increasingly adopting urban voting behaviors influenced by demographic factors such as education and income. This shift not only reflects internal dynamics of suburban spaces but also affects the broader urban-rural divide within the region. The suburban belt exemplifies how uneven development and socio-political fragmentation can exacerbate spatial inequalities, consistent with patterns observed across Europe under the "Geography of Discontent" framework. Employing a mixed-methods approach that integrates demographic statistics, electoral data, and qualitative interviews, the research offers a comprehensive analysis of these dynamics. The study highlights the role of suburbanization as a mediator of urban-rural interdependence, challenging simplistic categorizations of spatial units. By situating the Budapest Agglomeration within the wider European context, the paper emphasizes the need to reconsider urban-rural distinctions in light of regional inequalities and governance challenges. These insights are particularly relevant for understanding how suburbanization contributes to socio-political fragmentation. Who Feels Resentful About Their Place? Individual and Local Roots of Place-Based Resentment in the UK Who feels resentful about their place, and why? It is often argued that discontented citizens in ‘left behind’ places support far-right parties. Famously, economic geography argues that citizens in ‘places that don’t matter take their revenge at the ballot box’. However, not all individuals in struggling places share this discontent or vote for far-right parties. This paper conceptualises geographical ‘discontent’ at the individual level as place-based resentment—the perception that one’s community is neglected by national policymakers, unfairly treated in the allocation of government spending, deprived of local services, or overlooked by national political parties. Using geocoded survey data from the UK, I explore the individual-level correlates of place-based resentment. I show that place-based resentment arises not only in objectively struggling areas, such as rural or deindustrialising places. Resentment about how politics treats one’s place is also common in more affluent and urban regions. Individual-level characteristics such as ideological position and race interact with local conditions to create resentful citizens. For instance, declining local house prices disproportionately affect left-leaning citizens, while greater local racial diversity enhances perceptions of a locality's political efficacy among non-white residents. This research underscores the importance of perceptions in shaping the geography of discontent. Objective spatial inequalities alone cannot fully explain geographical differences in political disaffection. By revealing who feels resentful about their place, this study offers insights into mitigating the negative effects of spatial inequalities and fostering political support in diverse contexts. Governance in Metropolitan Cities – Who Actually Governs Them and How? This paper examines the implications of the new regionalism for regional and local governance and explores how the establishment of new metropolitan regions affects the sharing of power between politicians and officials between the centre and the periphery. Its main aim is to provide insights into who and how controls the emerging regions, which include a large city and dozens of hinterland municipalities. Based on a mixed-methodological approach and studying the Czech metropolitan cities, the paper examines how communication between the civil servants and elected representatives works and whether the new governance models lead to improved cooperation or, on the contrary, to tensions in inter-municipal cooperation. The theoretical ambition of the text is to bring conceptual innovation in the field of multilevel administration (MLA). Specifically, this goal will be achieved by enriching our existing theoretical understanding of interconnected governance at multiple levels (European, national and sub-state) by a/ making a clear distinction between the types of actor involved in governance (civil servants vs. politicians) and b/ making a more tangible distinction between the roles played by these actors in the governance process in metropolitan regions. In this way, the debate on MLG will be enriched by a detailed differentiation of the actors and their roles in governance. Digital Production of Urban Space Beyond City Limits: Hybrid Spaces and the Blurring of Urban-Suburban Divide Drawing on infrastructure studies and smart city research, alongside Soja's concept of thirdspace and theories of hybrid space (de Souza e Silva) and code/space (Kitchin & Dodge), we examine how digital urban infrastructures transform traditional urban-suburban relationships. These frameworks allow us to understand how digital technologies create new forms of spatiality that challenge traditional center-periphery relations. Our presentation aims to discuss theoretical frameworks suitable for analyzing urban-suburban relationships in the context of urban digitalization, focusing particularly on how digital layers of urban functionality reshape traditional spatial divisions. Smart city infrastructure and services, traditionally confined to urban centers, now extend into suburban areas through digital platforms and applications. This expansion creates a layer of urban functionality that transcends physical presence, enabling suburban residents to engage with urban life digitally. The digital layer transforms suburban users from mere consumers into active co-producers of urban space through their interactions, data generation, and participation in urban digital services. These digital systems, while becoming invisible in daily use, fundamentally reshape spatial practices and social relations beyond traditional boundaries. We argue that this digital layer leads to the emergence of new spatial practices that transcend conventional urban-suburban divisions. These practices exist in Soja's thirdspace - simultaneously real and imagined, material and digital. Understanding these changes is crucial as they fundamentally reshape not only how we use urban space, but also how we conceptualize urban-suburban relations in contemporary cities. This evolution suggests the need for a new theoretical framework for understanding urban-suburban relationships in the digital age, one that accounts for the hybrid nature of contemporary urban space and the increasingly fluid boundaries between city centers and their peripheries. Our proposition contributes to the ongoing discussion about the nature of spatial divisions in the era of digital urbanism by synthesizing various theoretical approaches to create a comprehensive analytical toolkit. | |