In recent decades, British politics has undergone seismic shifts, driven in part by a divide that journalist and author David Goodhart terms the “Anywhere vs. Somewhere” split. In his influential book The Road to Somewhere, Goodhart introduces these two identity groups, which he believes are essential for understanding political upheavals like Brexit and the rise of populist movements.
Defining the Divide
According to Goodhart, “Anywhere” people are highly educated, mobile, and comfortable with change. They derive their sense of identity from personal achievements such as academic success and career accomplishments. “Their identity skews towards the achieved end of the spectrum,” Goodhart explains. “They’ve done well at school, gone to a good university, and have successful professional careers.” This worldview emphasises openness, globalism, and meritocracy.
On the other side are the “Somewheres,” individuals whose sense of identity is deeply rooted in place, family, and community. They value stability and tradition, often feeling uncomfortable with rapid social and economic changes. “The Somewheres tend to have a worldview that is more skewed towards the ascribed,” Goodhart elaborates. “Their sense of themselves comes from things about them that are probably pretty immutable,” such as local community ties and cultural heritage.
A Political Lens
Goodhart argues that this divide has profound political implications, particularly in explaining the rise of populist movements in the West. He links the success of Brexit and the election of Donald Trump to a backlash from the Somewhere population, who felt marginalised by an elite-dominated political and cultural landscape.
“The populist backlash was driven by the fact that one of these worldviews has been over-dominant for the last 25 to 30 years,” Goodhart asserts. “The Anywhere worldview — characterised by liberal openness and pro-globalisation policies — has dominated politics, media, and culture.” This dominance, he suggests, has led to resentment among Somewheres, who feel dismissed as backward or xenophobic when expressing concerns about immigration, national identity, or community stability.
Cultural and Economic Roots
Education plays a pivotal role in shaping these identities. Goodhart highlights how the British higher education system reinforces the Anywhere worldview by encouraging geographic and social mobility. “We have a residential university system where students leave home and move 200 miles away,” he notes. “They get used to mobility being part of their life story.”
This educational system creates an elite cultural bubble. “Mixing mainly among themselves,” he says, “they develop what we might call ‘Guardian-ish’ values” — referencing the progressive stances often seen in media outlets like The Guardian. These include comfort with mass immigration, cosmopolitanism, and a belief in meritocratic success.
Meanwhile, Somewheres often do not participate in this university-driven upward mobility. They may remain in their hometowns, working in trades, caring for family members, or participating in local community life. Goodhart emphasises that their values are not inherently reactionary: “They’re not necessarily xenophobic… but they have a preference for the familiar, which is a pretty strong human trait.”
Social Consequences
The consequences of this divide are visible in political polarisation and cultural clashes. Goodhart criticises political elites for failing to understand or respect the Somewhere worldview: “There’s been a lack of emotional intelligence, a lack of empathy… far too easy to reach for the ‘racist’ or ‘xenophobic’ label.” He suggests that the Anywhere class often dismisses concerns about national identity and immigration as outdated or prejudiced, further alienating the Somewhere population.
This cultural divide has also influenced economic policy. Goodhart warns against the overproduction of university graduates for professional careers while neglecting vocational education. “We’ve massively undervalued practical and emotional intelligence,” he laments. “The Somewhere population, with its emphasis on community and skilled trades, has been left behind in an economy that prizes cognitive skills above all.”
Bridging the Gap
Can the Anywhere-Somewhere divide be reconciled? Goodhart cautiously suggests that recognising and respecting the legitimacy of both worldviews is a necessary first step. “Both of these worldviews, at least in their mainstream forms, are perfectly decent,” he argues. The challenge, he concludes, is balancing openness and change with stability and rootedness — values that have been too often overlooked in modern politics.
Goodhart’s analysis offers a compelling framework for understanding contemporary political and cultural tensions. In a world increasingly shaped by global forces and technological change, the Anywhere-Somewhere divide remains a crucial lens through which to interpret societal divisions — and perhaps even to find paths towards greater understanding and inclusion.
