REFRAMING NON-METROPOLITAN LEFT BEHIND PLACES THROUGH MOBILITY AND ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT

ongoing

Peripheral non-metropolitan areas are the subject of narratives with different degrees of pessimism. The pessimistic view relates to the hotspots of discontent that have arisen across Europe and the optimistic view to revitalized visions of small cities and rural localities as offering a higher quality of life in pandemic times than the metropolitan centres. Both views point to the complexity in deciphering the role spatial mobilities play in the future of peripheral places traditionally victims of outward migration and a lack of investment in economic and social infrastructure. Re-Place will study the dual function of places as areas of origin and destination focusing on heterogeneous forms of dwelling enmeshed in place. The overall objective is to mobilize participative research in non-metropolitan left-behind areas (LBAs) to examine the impact that spatial (im)mobility has on origin and destination areas and how it can be harnessed to improve local alternative development, cooperative building of human capital, wellbeing and sustainability across contexts. It will reach this through five specific objectives: i) to develop empirical tools – namely a typology and an online representative population survey- to advance complex understandings of development pathways and mobility; ii) to scale down to 12 areas in 6 countries to examine the (im)mobility drivers and movement to and from different types of LBAs assessing ensuing spatial, economic, social, and cultural transformations; iii) to qualitatively examine perceptions and livelihood practices of (im)mobile residents across life domains to understand micro strategies of dealing with peripherality; iv) to co-create place-based policies to enhance mobility benefits and alternative local development through village living labs and the development of a policy toolbox; and v) using co-production and visual methodologies to reframe existing narratives on LBAs to reinforce a sense of place for residents and newcomers.