Rethinking ‘left-behind’ places in a context of rising spatial inequalities and political discontent

The term 'left behind places' refers to post-industrial and rural areas characterised by economic under-performance and decline.This special issue aims to develop a broader understanding of the diverse meanings and manifestations of 'left behind places'.This editorial provides a review of how 'left-behind' places have been conceptualised in the literature and introduces the contributions according to four themes: the origins and meaning of the term 'left behind'; the production of 'left behind places' through broader processes of socio-spatial restructuring; (re)conceptualising 'left behindness' in terms of feelings of embitterment and hope; and, unpacking how local and national actors respond to decline and marginalisation.