THE REVOLT OF THE SOMEWHERES.

That divide—to use social analyst David Goodhart’s formulation—is between progressive Anywheres (around a quarter of the population) and locality-centred Somewheres (around half the population). That is, folk whose professions and connections are not anchored in a particular locality—and have networks that regularly cross national boundaries—and those whose lives, jobs and connections are much more centred on their local communities.

The latter are mainly working-class folk, but also include locally-based businesses and professionals. The former include both the human-and-cultural capital class and “big end of town” commercial capital.

Various types of Anywheres overwhelmingly dominate most organisations and institutions, including the political class (politicians, staffers, activists) among both Brahmin Left and Merchant Right. This leaves the Somewheres largely unrepresented by—and somewhat alienated from—institutional politics.

This roughly corresponds to Chris Arnade’s front row/back row dichotomy. I will add that the domination of institutions by the Anywheres and the decline of institutions representing Somewheres — like trade unions, churches, fraternal organizations, etc. — is not accidental, but engineered.