What about Left-Behind Places in the Global South? A Narrative Review

Résumé En

The emergence of the concept of "left-behind regions" is closely linked to therecent rise of populism, characterized by the ascent of far-right ideologies andviolent and/or social movements (Yellow Vests in France, Brexit in the UK). Thesephenomena underscore a resurgence of the "spatial question," marking a notableshift from the era of globalization and metropolitan dominance. In this newlandscape, marginalized populations in these neglected areas are rebeilingagainst the dominance of metropolitan elites, fueling the rise of populist andnationalist political movements. While academic attention has predominantlyfocused on neglected territories in Europe and North America, similar dynamics ofneoliberal restructuring and widening socio-spatial disparities are evident in theGlobal South.The relative silence in international research regarding neglected regions in theGlobal South prompts inquiry into whether their rising territorial inequalities alsogive rise to populism and localized dissent against urban elites. Exploring this, weendeavor to evaluate the applicability of the "left-behindness" narrative to theGlobal South. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature, our studyaims to discern whether neglected regions in the Global South precipitate politicalrepercussions and if these repercussions manifest in more overtly violent formscompared to their Northern counterparts.