The EXIT project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme, announces the completion of its guidelines, which are now accessible to the public. The EXIT project, short for “Exploring Sustainable Strategies to Counteract Territorial Inequalities from an Intersectional Approach,” aims to analyse territorial inequalities from a place-based, intersectional, and mixed-methods perspective.
The core objective of the EXIT project is to conduct multi-situated research that provides a comprehensive analysis of “left-behindness” as a concept used to describe territorial inequalities experienced by specific areas. By employing ethnographic and quantitative methods, as well as policy analysis, the project delves into the perspectives and experiences of residents and stakeholders in selected areas across eight countries. Through this research, the project aims to identify strategies and practices at different levels to combat territorial inequalities, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of the perception of these areas as being “left-behind.”
In the initial phase of the project, the research focused on developing a comprehensive understanding of how the concept of “left-behindness” is utilised in research, policy, and political discourse. This understanding, combined with critical literature, allowed the consortium to situate the concept within a broader context. Comparative analysis of political, academic, and public debates in eight European countries – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Serbia, Spain, and the UK – led to the identification of six central uses and misconceptions related to the notion of “left-behind.” Consequently, six suggestions were formulated to foster complementary or alternative perspectives.
Presenting the first set of guidelines within the project, the document focuses on the uses and misconceptions associated with “left-behind” places. These guidelines are tailored specifically for media and online content creators, providing key insights and messages for their consideration. By encouraging a critical approach to understanding the concept of “left-behindness,” the guidelines aim to guide stakeholders in avoiding the overexposure and victimisation of specific places and communities. Additionally, they seek to generate interest in territorial inequalities as a larger issue and provide tools for accurately framing the topic.
The EXIT project anticipates that these guidelines will promote a greater understanding of territorial inequalities and stimulate interest in the project’s future results. Two additional sets of guidelines, targeting policy makers and communities, are currently under development and will be released in due course.
For more information about the EXIT project and access to the guidelines, click HERE.
About the EXIT Project
The EXIT project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme, explores sustainable strategies to counteract territorial inequalities from an intersectional approach. It employs mixed-methods research to comprehensively analyze “left-behindness” as a concept used to describe territorial inequalities in specific areas. The project aims to identify strategies and practices to tackle these inequalities and provide a deeper understanding of how these areas are perceived as “left-behind.” For more information, please visit https://www.exit-project.eu/.
