“… that we are about 20 years too late”: The Digital Transformation of Social Infrastructure as an Indicator of Territorial Inclusion in “left-behind places” Authors Annika Heßmer Institut für Geographie, Friedrich-Schiller- Universität Jena Susann Schäfer Geographisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4390-2958 (unauthenticated) DOI: https://doi.org/10.14512/rur.3981 Keywords: Left-behind places, Digitalisation, Social infrastructure, Schools, Regional inequalities, Economic geography, Thuringia Abstract Building on debates on Left-behind Places, the Digital Divide, social infrastructure, and Smart Rurality, this paper examines to which extend digitalisation mitigates or reproduces perceived regional inequalities and so can be seen as a facet in the identification of left-behindness. Using the example of public schools in Thuringia, Germany, the authors analyse whether and to what extent government investments in digital infrastructures and the perceived level of digitalisation contribute to a convergence in perceived levels of territorial recognition. The empirical basis consists of 17 semi-structured interviews with school leaders across Thuringia, complemented by quantitative data from a statewide survey of all public schools. The findings reveal delayed and fragmented digitalisation trajectories in which schools, particularly in rural areas consistently experience themselves as deprioritised. Feelings of being “years too late” translate into perceptions of political marginality. This emotionality emerges from protracted equipment processes, fragile support structures, and selective prioritisation. We argue that digitalisation in public schools functions as a significant indicator of territorial recognition and can be understood as an institutional manifestation of such emotions, thereby making left-behind narratives empirically traceable. Downloads Download data is not yet available. Author Biography Susann Schäfer, Geographisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg Prof. Dr. Susann Schäfer University of Heidelberg, Institute of GeographyHead of Economic and Social Geography References Autorengruppe Bildungsberichterstattung (2020): Bildung in Deutschland 2020: Ein indikatorengestützter Bericht mit einer Analyse zu Bildung in einer digitalisierten Welt. Bielefeld. Bischof, S.; Lengerer, F.; Deppisch, L.; Decker, A.; Władyniak, L. D.; Konopski, M.; Grzelak, A.; Sidarava, A.; Bernard, J.; Klärner, A. (2025): Understanding rural (dis)content – methodological approach for the project ‘Social and Political Consequences of Spatial Inequality’. Braunschweig. = Thünen Working Paper 270. https://doi.org/10.3220/253-2025-53 Cuypers, M.; Maylandt, J.; Pelka, B. (2018): Die Bedeutung von Online-Plattformen für Community-Building und (digitale?) soziale Innovation. In: Franz, H.-W.; Kaletka, C. (Hrsg.): Soziale Innovationen lokal gestalten. Wiesbaden, 61–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-18532-9_4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-18532-9_4 Deppisch, L. (2021): “Where people in the countryside feel left behind populism has a clear path” – an analysis of the popular media discourse on how infrastructure decay, fear of social decline, and right-wing (extremist) values contribute to support for right-wing populism. Braunschweig. = Thünen Working Paper 119a. https://doi.org/10.3220/WP1613460042000 Deppisch, L. (2025): „Wir sind nur Menschen zweiter Klasse“: vom Abbau der Daseinsvorsorge und Aufstieg des Rechtspopulismus. In: Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte 75, 10-11, 45–53. DiMaggio, P.; Hargittai, E. (2001): From the ‘Digital Divide’ to ‘Digital Inequality’: Studying Internet Use as Penetration Increases. Princeton. = Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies, Working Paper 15. Djatmiko, G. H.; Sinaga, O.; Pawirosumarto, S. (2025). Digital Transformation and Social Inclusion in Public Services: A Qualitative Analysis of E‑Government Adoption for Marginalized Communities in Sustainable Governance. Sustainability 17, 7, 2908. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17072908 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17072908 Drossel, K.; Eickelmann, B.; Vennemann, M. (2019): Digitalisierung und Bildungsgerechtigkeit – die schulische Perspektive. In: Die Deutsche Schule 111, 4, 391–404. https://doi.org/10.31244/dds.2019.04.03 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31244/dds.2019.04.03 Eickelmann, B.; Gerick, J.; Vennemann, M. (2019): Unerwartet erfolgreiche Schulen im digitalen Zeitalter. Eine Analyse von Schulmerkmalen resilienter Schultypen auf Grundlage der IEA-Studie ICILS 2013. In: Journal for Educational Research Online 11, 1, 118–144. Ferrari, A.; Bacco, M.; Gaber, K.; Jedlitschka, A.; Hess, S.; Kaipainen, J.; Koltsida, P.; Toli, E.; Brunori, G. (2022): Drivers, barriers and impacts of digitalisation in rural areas from the viewpoint of experts. In: Information and Software Technology 145, 106816. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2021.106816 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2021.106816 Ghomi, M.; Redecker, C. (2019): Digital Competence of Educators (DigCompEdu): Development and Evaluation of a Self-assessment Instrument for Teachers’ Digital Competence. In: Lane, H.; Zvacek, S.; Uhomoibhi, J. (Hrsg.): Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Computer Supported Education. Volume 1. Setubal, 541–548. https://doi.org/10.5220/0007679005410548 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5220/0007679005410548 Graham, S. (2009): When infrastructure fails. In: Graham, S. (Hrsg.): Disrupted Cities: When Infrastructure Fails. New York. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203894484 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203894484 Hannemann, M.; Henn, S.; Schäfer, S. (2024): Regions, emotions and left-behindness: a phase model for understanding the emergence of regional embitterment. In: Regional Studies 58, 6, 1207–1218. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2023.2218886 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2023.2218886 Helsper, E. J. (2012): A Corresponding Fields Model for the Links Between Social and Digital Exclusion. In: Communication Theory 22, 4, 403–426. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2012.01416.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2012.01416.x Henn, S.; Schäfer, S. (2020): Wirtschaftsräumliche Struktur und Entwicklung Ostdeutschlands. Ein Überblick. In: Becker, S.; Naumann, M. (Hrsg.): Regionalentwicklung in Ostdeutschland. Dynamiken, Perspektiven und der Beitrag der Humangeographie. Berlin, 85–98. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-60901-9_7 Heßmer, A.; Schäfer, S. (2025): Digitalization of social infrastructure in left-behind-places – Empirical example of schools in Thuringia, Germany. In: Digital Geography and Society 8, 100118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diggeo.2025.100118 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diggeo.2025.100118 Klinenberg, E. (2019): Palaces for the people: how social infrastructure can help fight inequality, polarization, and the decline of civic life. New York. Kuckartz, U.; Rädiker, S. (2024): Qualitative Inhaltsanalyse. Methoden, Praxis, Umsetzung mit Software und künstlicher Intelligenz. Weinheim. Latham, A.; Layton, J. (2019): Social infrastructure and the public life of cities: Studying urban sociality and public spaces. In: Geography Compass 13, 7, e12444. https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12444 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12444 Leibert, T. (2020): Wanderungen und Regionalentwicklung. Ostdeutschland vor der Trendwende? In: Becker, S.; Naumann, M. (Hrsg.): Regionalentwicklung in Ostdeutschland. Dynamiken, Perspektiven und der Beitrag der Humangeographie. Berlin, 199–210. Lynn, T.; Rosati, P.; Conway, E.; Curran, D.; Fox, G.; O’Gorman, C. (2022): Digital Towns. Accelerating and Measuring the Digital Transformation of Rural Societies and Economies. Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91247-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91247-5 MacKinnon, D.; Kempton, L.; O’Brien, P.; Ormerod, E.; Pike, A.; Tomaney, J. (2022); Reframing urban and regional ‘development’ for ‘left behind’ places. In: Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society 15, 1, 39–56. https://doi.org/10.1093/cjres/rsab034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cjres/rsab034 Martínez-Peláez, R.; Ochoa-Brust, A.; Rivera, S.; Félix, V. G.; Ostos, R.; Brito, H.; Félix, R. A.; Mena, L. J. (2023): Role of Digital Transformation for Achieving Sustainability: Mediated Role of Stakeholders, Key Capabilities, and Technology. In: Sustainability 15, 14, 11221. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411221 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411221 Mayring, P. (2014): Qualitative content analysis: Theoretical foundation, basic procedures and software solution. Klagenfurt. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9181-6_13 Mossberger, K.; Tolbert, C. J.; Franko, T. (2013): Digital Cities: The Internet and the Geography of Opportunity. Oxford. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199812936.001.0001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199812936.001.0001 Nilsen, T.; Grillitsch, M.; Hauge, A. (2023): Varieties of periphery and local agency in regional development. In: Regional Studies 57, 4, 749–762. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2022.2106364 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2022.2106364 Norris, P. (2001): Digital Divide: Civic Engagement, Information Poverty and the Internet World-Wide. Cambridge. https://doi.org/10.1108/146366903322008287 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/146366903322008287 OECD – Organisation für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (2019): Bildung, Trends, Zukunft. Paris. https://doi.org/10.1787/738db6c1-de DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/738db6c1-de Ofori, A. S.; Keaveney, K.; Gonzalez del Campo, A.; Robinson, D. (2025): Rural Transformation Through Digitalisation? Understanding the Digital in the Context of Rural Change. In: European Countryside 17, 1, 91–110. https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2025-0005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2025-0005 Philip, L.; Cottrill, C.; Farrington, J.; Williams, F.; Ashmore, F. (2017): The digital divide: Patterns, policy and scenarios for connecting the ‘final few’ in rural communities across Great Britain. In: Journal of Rural Studies 54, 386–398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.12.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.12.002 Pike, A.; Béal, V.; Cauchi-Duval, N.; Franklin, R.; Kinossian, N.; Lang, T. (2023): ‘Left behind places’: a geographical etymology. In: Regional Studies 58, 6, 1167–1179. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2023.2167972 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2023.2167972 Robinson, L.; Cotten, S. R.; Ono, H.; Quan-Haase, A.; Mesch, G.; Chen, W.; Schulz, J.; Hale, T. M.; Stern, M. J. (2015): Digital inequalities and why they matter. In: Information, Communication and Society 18, 5, 569–582. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2015.1012532 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2015.1012532 Rodríguez-Pose, A. (2018): The revenge of the places that don’t matter (and what to do about it). In: Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society 11, 1, 189–209. https://doi.org/10.1093/cjres/rsx024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cjres/rsx024 Royer, J.; Leibert, T. (2024): Suspended in time? Peripheralised and “left behind” places in Germany. In: Geographica Helvetica 79, 3, 221–237. https://doi.org/10.5194/gh-79-221-2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/gh-79-221-2024 Salemink, K.; Strijker, D.; Bosworth, G. (2017): Rural development in the digital age: A systematic literature review on unequal ICT availability, adoption, and use in rural areas. In: Journal of Rural Studies 54, 360–371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2015.09.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2015.09.001 Schafft, K. A. (2016): Rural Education As Rural Development: Understanding the Rural School-Community Well-Being Linkage in a 21st-Century Policy Context. In: Peabody Journal of Education 91, 2, 137–154. https://doi.org/10.1080/0161956X.2016.1151734 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0161956X.2016.1151734 Sedlacek, S.; Kurka, B.; Maier, G. (2009): Regional identity: a key to overcome structural weaknesses in peripheral rural regions? In: European Countryside 1, 4, 180–201. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10091-009-0015-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10091-009-0015-3 Sept, A. (2020): Thinking Together Digitalization and Social Innovation in Rural Areas: An Exploration of Rural Digitalization Projects in Germany. In: European Countryside 12, 2, 193–208. https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2020-0011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2020-0011 Shucksmith, M. (2018). Re-imagining the rural: From rural idyll to Good Countryside. In: Journal of Rural Studies 59, 163–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.07.019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.07.019 Stein, V.; Pentzold, C.; Peter, S.; Sterly, S. (2022): Digitalization and Civic Participation in Rural Areas. A Systematic Review of Scientific Journals, 2010-2020. In: Raumforschung und Raumordnung | Spatial Research and Planning 80, 3, 251–265. https://doi.org/10.14512/rur.112 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14512/rur.112 Tomaney, J.; Blackman, M.; Natarajan, D.; Panayotopoulos-Tsiros, D.; Sutcliffe-Braithwaite, F.; Taylor, M. (2024): Social infrastructure and ‘left-behind places’. In: Regional Studies 58, 6, 1237–1250. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2023.2224828 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032710051 Tomaney, J.; Pike, A. (2021): Local Industrial Policy and “left behind” Places. In: Craig, B.; Froud, J.; Barker, T. (Hrsg.): The political economy of industrial strategy in the UK. Newcastle, 235–242. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1mvw8s5.25 van Dijk, J. (2020): The Digital Divide. Cambridge. Vial, G. (2019). Understanding digital transformation: A review and a research agenda. In: The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 28, 2, 118–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2019.01.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2019.01.003 Warschauer, M. (2003): Technology and Social Inclusion: Rethinking the Digital Divide. Cambridge. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/6699.001.0001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/6699.001.0001 Weith, T.; Prossek, A.; Weddige, U.; Gütte, A.; Zscheischler, J. (2022): Mehr als smarte Technik: ein konzeptioneller Rahmen zu „Smart Countryside“. In: Raumforschung und Raumordnung | Spatial Research and Planning 80, 3, 296–313. https://doi.org/10.14512/rur.127 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14512/rur.127 Wilmers, A.; Achenbach, M.; Keller, C. (Hrsg.) (2023): Bildung im digitalen Wandel. Die Bedeutung digitaler Medien für soziales Lernen und Teilhabe. Münster. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31244/9783830998464 Zerrer, N.; Sept, A. (2020): Smart Villagers as Actors of Digital Social Innovation in Rural Areas. In: Urban Planning 5, 4, 78–88. https://doi.org/10.17645/up.v5i4.3183 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17645/up.v5i4.3183 Zillien, N.; Hargittai, E. (2009): Digital Distinction: Status-Specific Types of Internet Usage. In: Social Science Quarterly 90, 2, 274–291. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6237.2009.00617.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6237.2009.00617.x Downloads PDF (German) HTML (German) XML (German) Published 2026-07-01 Issue Online First Section Research Article License Copyright (c) 2026 Annika Heßmer, Susann Schäfer This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Articles in Raumforschung und Raumordnung – Spatial Research and Planning are published under a Creative Commons license. From Vol. 79 No. 2 (2021), the license applied is CC BY 4.0. From Vol. 77 No. 1 to Vol. 79 No.1, articles were published under a CC BY-SA license. Earlier volumes have been re-published by oekom 2022 under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License CC BY 4.0. How to Cite 1.Heßmer A, Schäfer S. “… that we are about 20 years too late”: The Digital Transformation of Social Infrastructure as an Indicator of Territorial Inclusion in “left-behind places”. RuR [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 1 [cited 2026 Jul. 11];. Available from: https://rur.oekom.de/index.php/rur/article/view/3981 More Citation Formats ACM ACS APA ABNT Chicago Harvard IEEE MLA Turabian Vancouver Download Citation Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS) BibTeX Share
A new Issue has been published June 30, 2026 A new issue of the Open-Access-Journal "Raumforschung und Raumordnung | Spatial Research and Planning" has been published. Volume 84 No. 3 (2026) is now available on our website.
A new Issue has been published April 30, 2026 A new issue of the Open-Access-Journal "Raumforschung und Raumordnung | Spatial Research and Planning" has been published. Volume 84 No. 2 (2026) is now available on our website.
A new Issue has been published. February 27, 2026 A new issue of the Open-Access-Journal "Raumforschung und Raumordnung | Spatial Research and Planning" has been published. Volume 84 No. 1 (2026) is now available on our website.
