Abstract
This paper examines young people's 'micro-territorialisations' in rural settings, focusing on how alcohol and drugs influence their spatial practices. Based on 30 in-depth interviews with individuals aged 18-25, it incorporates Kärrholm's work on territorialisation to examine the relational and temporal dimensions of rural youths’ place-making. The paper also applies Antonsich's concept of 'place-belongingness' to analyse how young people seek to maintain a sense of belonging to their communities through their territorialisation practices. Our findings show variations in micro-territorialisations across different spaces, influenced by their nature (public or private; remote or central location), which allows for either temporary or permanent claims. The paper further highlights how young people's relationships with their local communities affect their territorial practices; they create their own places while being mindful and responsible in relation to their local communities. Alcohol and drug consumption is found to shape micro-territorialisations, with substance use often leading to the preference for secluded locations to mitigate negative perceptions from the community.
| Original language | English |
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| Journal | Sociologia Ruralis |
| ISSN | 0038-0199 |
| Publication status | Submitted - 2024 |