A Political Geography of Polarising Identities

Contested Iconic Places

Kees Terlouw (University of Utrecht, Netherlands)

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English

Routledge
31 December 2025

Social & political philosophy; Ethnic studies; Sociology: customs & traditions; Nationalism; Political geography

Series: Routledge Research in Place, Space and Politics

This book links the current wave of political polarisation to the polarisation taking place between cosmopolitan and parochial identity discourses and their antagonistic valuation of iconic urban and regional places.

Instead of looking for explanations of polarisation only in left-behind regions, this book analyses how societal changes favouring cities, like globalisation and individualisation, created an urban hubris which is now challenged. A careful analysis of the different valuations of specific iconic places like those linked to borders, waterfront apartments, and livestock farms in different Western European countries shows that this polarisation between cosmopolitan and parochial identity discourses goes deeper and further than the rise in support for national populism. It shows the growing spatial polarisation through the enclavisation of the cosmopolitan new bourgeoisie in cities, further polarising the antagonistic valuation of different iconic urban and regional places as either disgusting examples of urban arrogance or parochial bigotry.

The broader spatial and temporal perspective adopted in this book is of interest to anyone who wants to look beyond the national political headlines. It will help students, researchers, human geographers, political scientists, and sociologists better understand the intricate relation between identities, politics, places, and societal developments.

By: Kees Terlouw (University of Utrecht Netherlands)
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781032706665
ISBN 10: 103270666X
Series: Routledge Research in Place, Space and Politics
Pages: 180
Publication Date: 31 December 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Further / Higher Education , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Kees Terlouw is a political geographer and sociologist in the Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. His work focuses on the political usages of spatial identities, especially those related to the governance of local and regional administrations.