Understanding rural (dis)content - methodological approach for the project 'Social and Political Consequences of Spatial Inequality'

The prevailing socio-economic disparities within numerous European nations are becoming increasingly pro-nounced. However, our understanding of their social and political implications, particularly with respect to the rise of populism and the sentiment of being ‘left behind’, remains limited. The project, titled ‘Social and Political Consequences of Spatial Inequalities: A Case Study of Central-Eastern Europe’ (SPC Spatial) aims to address these issues through empirical verification, international comparison, a focus on East-Central Europe, and a mixed-method approach. This Working Paper is part of the project’s qualitative work package, which specifically targets the perceptions and perspectives of people living in disadvantaged regions. It aims to understand how different age and income groups perceive their local living conditions and how this shapes their future prospects and their relationship to politics. To enhance the transparency of our research, this methodological working paper presents in detail our basic methodological assumptions and the empirical approach, which includes ex-pert interviews, focus groups, the use of visual stimuli, and a thematic analysis of the data.