Rural Spatial Justice
@ruralspatialj.bsky.social
News & analysis from the ‘Rural Discontent, Disruptive Politics & Spatial Justice’ (Rural-Spatial-Justice) project at Aberystwyth University. Reposts are not endorsements.
As Brazil votes in a knife-edge presidential election today, you might to read an early output from Rural-Spatial-Justice published last year on place and rural discontent in Jair Bolsonaro's shock 2018 election victory.
periodicos.uff.br/geographia/a...
periodicos.uff.br/geographia/a...
October 4, 2026 at 1:12 PM
As Brazil votes in a knife-edge presidential election today, you might to read an early output from Rural-Spatial-Justice published last year on place and rural discontent in Jair Bolsonaro's shock 2018 election victory.
periodicos.uff.br/geographia/a...
periodicos.uff.br/geographia/a...
New paper: 'Rural Discontent and Disruptive Politics: A Spatial Justice Perspective', just published in Progress in Environmental Geography introduces the conceptual framework for the Rural-Spatial-Justice project. Open access and free to read on the link below:
doi.org/10.1177/2753...
doi.org/10.1177/2753...
Rural Discontent and Disruptive Politics: A Spatial Justice Perspective - Michael Woods, 2026
This thematic intervention proposes the adoption of a spatial justice framework to examine the drivers of rural support for disruptive political movements and t...
doi.org
October 1, 2026 at 4:59 PM
New paper: 'Rural Discontent and Disruptive Politics: A Spatial Justice Perspective', just published in Progress in Environmental Geography introduces the conceptual framework for the Rural-Spatial-Justice project. Open access and free to read on the link below:
doi.org/10.1177/2753...
doi.org/10.1177/2753...
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
How is the far right taking advantage of farmers' discontent? We discuss evidence from France, Germany & UK in an extended write-up of our paper at last week's @rgs.org conference.
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/interstiti...
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/interstiti...
Interstitial radicalisation: The far right and farmer discontent in Europe
This is an extended written version of a paper presented at the Royal Geographical Society annual conference.
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com
September 9, 2026 at 10:25 AM
How is the far right taking advantage of farmers' discontent? We discuss evidence from France, Germany & UK in an extended write-up of our paper at last week's @rgs.org conference.
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/interstiti...
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/interstiti...
How is the far right taking advantage of farmers' discontent? We discuss evidence from France, Germany & UK in an extended write-up of our paper at last week's @rgs.org conference.
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/interstiti...
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/interstiti...
Interstitial radicalisation: The far right and farmer discontent in Europe
This is an extended written version of a paper presented at the Royal Geographical Society annual conference.
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com
September 9, 2026 at 10:25 AM
How is the far right taking advantage of farmers' discontent? We discuss evidence from France, Germany & UK in an extended write-up of our paper at last week's @rgs.org conference.
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/interstiti...
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/interstiti...
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
Further analyses for the other parties, along with a more detailed discussion of the results from this thread, are available here in full text. 👇
juliuskoelzer.de/saxony-anhal...
juliuskoelzer.de/saxony-anhal...
Turning Blue? The 2026 State Election in Saxony-Anhalt – A Municipality-Level Analysis
The AfD fell just short of an absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt amid sharply higher turnout. An analysis of the electoral geography behind the result across the state’s 218 municipalities.
juliuskoelzer.de
September 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Further analyses for the other parties, along with a more detailed discussion of the results from this thread, are available here in full text. 👇
juliuskoelzer.de/saxony-anhal...
juliuskoelzer.de/saxony-anhal...
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
4) As often discussed, AfD strongholds tend to be more rural and reliant on manufacturing employment, with higher levels of out-migration, fewer university graduates and migrants, a lower share of women, and lower purchasing power. Green strongholds almost display the mirror image.
September 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM
4) As often discussed, AfD strongholds tend to be more rural and reliant on manufacturing employment, with higher levels of out-migration, fewer university graduates and migrants, a lower share of women, and lower purchasing power. Green strongholds almost display the mirror image.
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
Changes in vote shares since 2021 also highlight the AfD’s growing dominance in rural areas: the smaller the municipality, the larger its gains. The SPD and Greens gain mainly in larger cities, while die Linke also records much smaller losses there.
September 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Changes in vote shares since 2021 also highlight the AfD’s growing dominance in rural areas: the smaller the municipality, the larger its gains. The SPD and Greens gain mainly in larger cities, while die Linke also records much smaller losses there.
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
3) Despite these regional variations, a clear divide separates the larger cities from the rest of the state. The AfD dominates the countryside and remains strongest even in municipalities of 20,000–50,000 residents; only in the largest cities does its support drop markedly.
September 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM
3) Despite these regional variations, a clear divide separates the larger cities from the rest of the state. The AfD dominates the countryside and remains strongest even in municipalities of 20,000–50,000 residents; only in the largest cities does its support drop markedly.
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
This broad mobilization leaves the AfD as the largest party in all 218 municipalities. Its strongest gains are concentrated in the rural Burgenlandkreis, Mansfeld-Südharz, Salzlandkreis, and Saalekreis, while increases are more limited in urban Halle and Magdeburg.
September 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM
This broad mobilization leaves the AfD as the largest party in all 218 municipalities. Its strongest gains are concentrated in the rural Burgenlandkreis, Mansfeld-Südharz, Salzlandkreis, and Saalekreis, while increases are more limited in urban Halle and Magdeburg.
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
Larger increases in turnout are thus associated with greater rurality, reflected in lower population density and smaller population size. Turnout also rose more strongly in municipalities experiencing population loss and where the AfD had already performed above average in 2021.
September 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Larger increases in turnout are thus associated with greater rurality, reflected in lower population density and smaller population size. Turnout also rose more strongly in municipalities experiencing population loss and where the AfD had already performed above average in 2021.
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
The increase is especially pronounced in rural municipalities in the Harz and Burgenlandkreis in the south of the state, where turnout often rises by more than 20 percentage points. In the two largest cities, Halle and Magdeburg, it is around 15 points, below the statewide average.
September 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM
The increase is especially pronounced in rural municipalities in the Harz and Burgenlandkreis in the south of the state, where turnout often rises by more than 20 percentage points. In the two largest cities, Halle and Magdeburg, it is around 15 points, below the statewide average.
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
1) As many have noted, the major game changer in this state election is the sharp increase in turnout. With nearly 250,000 additional votes cast, turnout rises by 17.5 percentage points. The increase varies considerably across municipalities and is particularly pronounced in rural areas.
September 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM
1) As many have noted, the major game changer in this state election is the sharp increase in turnout. With nearly 250,000 additional votes cast, turnout rises by 17.5 percentage points. The increase varies considerably across municipalities and is particularly pronounced in rural areas.
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
Saxony-Anhalt went to the polls, with the AfD falling just short of a majority. Here are some takeaways based on the preliminary results across all 218 municipalities and local socioeconomic characteristics. A thread 🧵(1 /n)
Full analysis + write-up:
juliuskoelzer.de/saxony-anhal...
Full analysis + write-up:
juliuskoelzer.de/saxony-anhal...
September 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Saxony-Anhalt went to the polls, with the AfD falling just short of a majority. Here are some takeaways based on the preliminary results across all 218 municipalities and local socioeconomic characteristics. A thread 🧵(1 /n)
Full analysis + write-up:
juliuskoelzer.de/saxony-anhal...
Full analysis + write-up:
juliuskoelzer.de/saxony-anhal...
We discuss the complicated politics of US farmers in a new long-form read about rural Wisconsin on our Rural-Spatial-Justice Substack: ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/winning-in...
August 25, 2026 at 9:20 AM
We discuss the complicated politics of US farmers in a new long-form read about rural Wisconsin on our Rural-Spatial-Justice Substack: ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/winning-in...
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
And yet still farm counties will vote Republican. They always do.
August 25, 2026 at 5:59 AM
And yet still farm counties will vote Republican. They always do.
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
Could rural Wisconsin turn against the Republicans? My new long-read on our @ruralspatialj.bsky.social Substack discusses political history, the role of rural consciousness & the 'politics of resentment', and the issues that might make a difference.
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/winning-in...
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/winning-in...
Winning in Wisconsin: Rural Consciousness, Radical Republicans and Progressive Democrats in America’s Dairyland
Could rural Wisconsin turn against the Republicans? Some thoughts on political history and current issues
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com
August 24, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Could rural Wisconsin turn against the Republicans? My new long-read on our @ruralspatialj.bsky.social Substack discusses political history, the role of rural consciousness & the 'politics of resentment', and the issues that might make a difference.
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/winning-in...
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/winning-in...
Could rural Wisconsin turn against the Republicans? A new long-form read on our Substack discusses the political history of the region, the role of rural consciousness and the 'politics of resentment', and the issues that might make a difference.
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/winning-in...
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/winning-in...
Winning in Wisconsin: Rural Consciousness, Radical Republicans and Progressive Democrats in America’s Dairyland
Could rural Wisconsin turn against the Republicans? Some thoughts on political history and current issues
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com
August 24, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Could rural Wisconsin turn against the Republicans? A new long-form read on our Substack discusses the political history of the region, the role of rural consciousness and the 'politics of resentment', and the issues that might make a difference.
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/winning-in...
ruralspatialjustice.substack.com/p/winning-in...
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
'How Place-Based Policy Could Counter Populist Discontent'
Our latest essay on place and discontent is out today in
@politicalquarterly.bsky.social
Free to read ➡️ doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Our latest essay on place and discontent is out today in
@politicalquarterly.bsky.social
Free to read ➡️ doi.org/10.1111/1467...
August 17, 2026 at 7:24 AM
'How Place-Based Policy Could Counter Populist Discontent'
Our latest essay on place and discontent is out today in
@politicalquarterly.bsky.social
Free to read ➡️ doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Our latest essay on place and discontent is out today in
@politicalquarterly.bsky.social
Free to read ➡️ doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
Thetford residents remain on edge after days of ‘mob rule’ over asylum plans
Thetford residents remain on edge after days of ‘mob rule’ over asylum plans
People voice frustration with officials’ failure to engage with community over placement of asylum seekers in area
www.theguardian.com
August 7, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Thetford residents remain on edge after days of ‘mob rule’ over asylum plans
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
Also an interesting paper by James Broun in Contemporary British History identifying origins of a reactionary turn in Lincs in the 1980s: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Place, identity and social conflict in post-industrial England: cases from South Lincolnshire in the 1980s
This article examines a case of social conflict in an overlooked corner of England (Lincolnshire) in the late 1980s when self-described ‘local’ people opposed private housing developments and the m...
www.tandfonline.com
August 7, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Also an interesting paper by James Broun in Contemporary British History identifying origins of a reactionary turn in Lincs in the 1980s: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
Many core Reform supporters in Lincs are incomers (esp from London), so there’s a question to explore of whether movers preferring rural landscape of eastern counties over those of the south, west or north have different values/motivations/political inclinations that don’t show in demographic data.
August 7, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Many core Reform supporters in Lincs are incomers (esp from London), so there’s a question to explore of whether movers preferring rural landscape of eastern counties over those of the south, west or north have different values/motivations/political inclinations that don’t show in demographic data.
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
(3) Tensions around EU migration linked to structure of agriculture (arable) & land ownership, which mark the east as different to other parts of rural England; (4) Significant military & ex-military presence.
August 7, 2026 at 11:42 AM
(3) Tensions around EU migration linked to structure of agriculture (arable) & land ownership, which mark the east as different to other parts of rural England; (4) Significant military & ex-military presence.
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
(2) Long Conservative dominance (after decline of agricultural working class in 1950s) means that left / centre parties are weak & disaffected Tories turn right not left (contrasts with persistent LD presence in SW offering an alternative route)...
August 7, 2026 at 11:42 AM
(2) Long Conservative dominance (after decline of agricultural working class in 1950s) means that left / centre parties are weak & disaffected Tories turn right not left (contrasts with persistent LD presence in SW offering an alternative route)...
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
We’re researching this question in Lincolnshire at the moment in the Rural-Spatial-Justice project @ruralspatialj.bsky.social . Factors suggested by early findings include: (1) Profound sense of isolation & neglect fuelling anti-metro sentiment & feeling of spatial injustice...
August 7, 2026 at 11:42 AM
We’re researching this question in Lincolnshire at the moment in the Rural-Spatial-Justice project @ruralspatialj.bsky.social . Factors suggested by early findings include: (1) Profound sense of isolation & neglect fuelling anti-metro sentiment & feeling of spatial injustice...
Reposted by Rural Spatial Justice
There have been some previous studies but they’re not easy to get hold of, including Blamire et al published in the book ‘Reflections on Polarisation and Inequalities in Brexit Pandemic Times’ and PhD research by @willkend.bsky.social at LSE, not yet published....
August 7, 2026 at 11:42 AM
There have been some previous studies but they’re not easy to get hold of, including Blamire et al published in the book ‘Reflections on Polarisation and Inequalities in Brexit Pandemic Times’ and PhD research by @willkend.bsky.social at LSE, not yet published....