Counterurbanisation in post-covid-19 times. Signifier of resurgent interest in rural space across the global North?
Keith Halfacree
Abstract
This review paper draws upon a wide range of diverse international sources to give a still relatively early assessment of the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic stimulated a resurgence of counterurbanisation across much of the global North. Whilst it finds and argues that a ‘resurgence’ was apparent, it may not have been as strong or lasting as was suggested by media reports in particular. Indeed, numerous challenges to any such a resurgence are noted, drawn especially from recent reflections on the pandemic period. Nonetheless, any counterurban revival is seen as being significant more widely as it fits with a wider resurgent interest in ‘all things rural’ that pre-dated COVID-19 but was stimulated further by it. In contrast to the widely celebrated rural, the paper also notes how city life was often seen as unsatisfactory during the pandemic, not least because its usual underpinning by diverse everyday mobilities was strongly compromised. This condition stimulated, in particular, a turn to rural often more for pragmatic than idealistic reasons, such as for health and to have more freedom and space. Overall, the whole COVID-19 experience sits within a range of political questions about access to space centrally involving the rural. • Well-established counterurbanisation across much of the global North attracted renewed attention via reinforcement through COVID-19. • Causes of boost are noted but also how it was limited, and we may now be seeing re-urbanisation returning. • Even temporary counterurban revival fits with renewed interest in ‘things rural’ pre-dating COVID-19 and carrying on today. • The COVID-19 experience has animated debates and political questions about rural, access to land and housing a key issue.