Populist resentments and identities and their repercussions on firms and regions. The example of East Thuringia

Abstract

Right-wing populism and related geographies of discontent have become central subjects in the recent debate on regional inequalities. The present contribution seeks to complement existing, predominantly synoptic approaches by looking at specific economic practices of local actors. We argue that exclusionary regional political identities are transferred to firms and shape corporate practices. Using 65 semi-structured interviews with representatives from firms in East Thuringia, we analyze these processes and how they affect recruitment, customer-relations and local business networks in different types of firms. Furthermore, we show that these practices can have a negative impact on the business location and thus contribute to the consolidation of existing regional inequalities.