Spatial inequalities and feelings of left-behindness: perceptions, imaginaries, and policy responses
Recent political developments related to place-based feelings of discontent and left-behindness draw urgent attention toward building scholarly understanding of the emotional, discursive, and narrative dimensions of contemporary regional inequality (Leininger & Schaub, 2023). The rise of populist movements, growing anti-establishment sentiment, and regional polarization in the US, Europe and other parts of the world (Borbáth et al., 2023) have motivated scholarly and policy action toward not only understanding the root causes of such dynamics, but also policy strategies to equalize socioeconomic prosperity in places perceived as ‘left behind’ (Jubany et al. 2025). As political attitudes harboured in ‘left behind’ places propel electoral shifts, spatial divides, and declining trust in political institutions (MacKinnon et al. 2024), there is a need for research on how regional disparities materialise in, through and with regard to distinct places. In particular, there is a need to (re)consider how policy solutions meant to address territorial inequalities can take the deeply rooted feelings, perceptions, and spatial imaginaries of ‘left behind’ places and peripheralized regions into account (Jubany et al. 2025; Pike et al., 2023; Benner, 2025).
Building on existing contributions (Vol. 58: Beyond decline and discontent: developing a broader understanding of ‘left-behind’ places) and organized special sessions at the 2025 RSA conference in Porto, this Special Issue particularly addresses the significance of the perceptual dimension. We invite contributions which examine the role of spatial imaginaries, narratives, regional visions, identities, emotional geographies and effects associated with regional inequality and their interrelationship with policy responses as part of an ‘ideational turn’ (Benner, 2024) within Regional Studies. By focusing on regional actors’ perceptions and perceived regional futures, the SI explores the intersection of the feelings and material conditions influencing ‘left-behindness’ and the policies designed to address it.
This Special Issue highlights international spatial variations and manifestations of left-behindness and their interdependencies with psychological perceptions and local cultural embeddedness. By discussing the broader material and structural conditions of ‘left-behindness’, the Special Issue shifts the focus to the perceptual dimension and the role of spatial imaginaries, examining the subjective, emotional, and symbolic dimensions of left-behindness at different territorial levels. It aims to explore how narratives, imaginaries, and historical preconditions shape local identities, feelings of exclusion, and thus visions of regional futures. Therefore, the Special Issue will welcome studies that offer new ways of thinking about left-behind places and political discontent, moving beyond economic metrics to explore the emotional, symbolic, and narrative dimensions that shape and are shaped by spatial inequalities and regional futures. All contributions should ground their analysis in regional and place-based context, ensuring coherence with the journal’s mission and spatial focus. We are further interested in papers that address the following (non-exhaustive) topics:
- Theorisations and empirical examples of perceived left-behindness;
- Construction of narratives and imaginaries of and within ‘left behind regions’;
- Significance of regional identities, histories, or social memories within peripheralized places for perceptions of the future;
- Material effects of spatial imaginaries, emotional associations of marginality, or feelings of discontent/left-behind-ness on regional development policy and planning;
- Epistemological assumptions and methodologies to examine imaginaries, narratives and visions within ‘left behind’ places and policy;
- Policy responses and best-practice examples to tackle feelings of perceived left-behindness, and/or empowering local agencies, contrasting feelings of neglect and institutional mistrust, etc.;
- The commonalities and differences of spatial imaginaries and perceptions of left-behindness across a variety of geographies (e.g., Global North versus Global South).
The guest editorial team particularly encourages early-career scholars in geography, regional studies, public and regional policy, and related fields, bringing fresh perspectives to the discussion under the high publishing standards of Regional Studies. Furthermore, submissions examining perceptions of ‘left behind-ness’ from the Global South are encouraged. Conceptual, theoretical and empirical submissions, both qualitative and quantitative, as well as case studies from different regions in the world are welcome.
References
Benner, M. (2025). An ideational turn in economic geography?, Progress in Economic Geography, 2(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peg.2024.100014.
Borbáth, E., Hutter, S., Leininger, A. (2023). Cleavage politics, polarisation and participation in Western Europe., West European Politics, 46(4). 631-651. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2022.2161786.
Fiorentino, S., Glasmeier, A.K., Lobao, L., Martin, R., Tyler, P. (2024). ‘Left behind places’: What can be done about them?, Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 17(2), 259–274. https://doi.org/10.1093/cjres/rsae012.
Jubany, O., Sunderic, Z., Matkovic, G., Roiha, M. (2025). Between policy and perception: Stakeholder views on addressing territorial inequality in Europe. Open Res Europe, 5:40. https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.19221.2.
Leininger, A., Schaub, M. (2024). Strategic Alignment in Times of Crisis: Voting at the Dawn of a Global Pandemic. Political Behavior 46, 1589–1607. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11109-023-09885-8.
MacKinnon D., Béal, V., Leibert, T. (2024). Rethinking ‘left-behind’ places in a context of rising spatial inequalities and political discontent. Regional Studies, 58(6), 1161–1166. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2023.2291581.
Pike, A., Béal, V., Cauchi-Duval, N., Franklin, R., Kinossian, N., Lang, T., Leibert, T., MacKinnon, D., Rousseau, M., Royer, J., Servillo, L., Tomaney, J., Velthuis, S. (2023). ‘Left behind places’: a geographical etymology. Regional Studies, 58(6), 1167–1179. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2023.2167972.
Submission Instructions
Authors interested should submit an extended abstract of max. 500 words + references via the following Google-Form by the 28th of February 2026 at the latest in order to verify the potential fit with the Special Issue objectives before final submission of full manuscripts. All authors will receive further information regarding the outcome of their extended abstract submission by the 30th of March at the latest. We further welcome informal inquiries relating to the Special Issue and proposed topics. Please direct any questions on the Special Issue to our team of guest editors.
Google-Form for extended Abstract Submission till 28th of February 2026: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdf2X3OdFL1favbZeifZZ6gSC0BTPkrfiJ5WV12OnrxPZaicA/viewform
Afterwards, all submissions are subject to the Regional Studies Journal’s usual full peer review process. Full manuscripts should be submitted via the journal’s online submission system by the 11th of September 2026. On submission, please select the special issue title and consider if your submission could further become part of the ‘Policy Debates’ or ‘Urban and Regional Horizons’ Sections of Regional Studies.
The guest editors intend to host a Special Session at the RSA 2026 Conference in Gothenburg between 15th-18th June 2026, where manuscripts can be presented and discussed. It should be noted, however, that invitations to the RSA Conference Special Session does not guarantee a paper’s acceptance to the Special Issue.
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Google-Form for extended Abstract Submission until 28 Feb 2026