The relational and territorial perspectives on legitimacy

National politics polarises. To better understand this, we must look beyond the national political arena. Especially the polarisation between cities and the countryside, which intensified under neoliberalism, is crucial. Their economic fortunes not only diverge through increased global competition. More fundamentally, these differences are linked to the growing polarisation between the relational and territorial perspectives on legitimacy.   More than a buzzword? Polarisation has become a buzzword. It is, however, used more as a value judgment on the state of politics and especially the role of populist politicians than as an analytical concept. It is linked to the rise in support for populist politicians, although opinions differ on whether this is the cause or consequence of the growing political polarisation. Populism is not an ideological alternative to neoliberalism. It is an aspect of the polarisation caused by the current crisis in neoliberal globalisation .   The diff