Rural Geographies of Refugee Activism: The Expanding Spaces of Sanctuary in the UK

Abstract

The steep rise in the number of migrants and refugees arriving in Europe in 2015 prompted widespread pro-migrant political mobilisation in the UK, including in rural areas. This article argues that more account should be taken of rural sanctuary movements in academic and popular understandings of pro-migrant activism, which remain largely urban-centric. It examines why the growth of rural sanctuary movements is significant, identifies how the distinctive qualities of rural communities shape the configuration of social relationships and networks within them, and contributes to scholarship on the nexus between rurality, migration and activism. In so doing, the article demonstrates the unique opportunities that rural communities offer to address social issues such as migrant exclusion and disadvantage.