St. Abbs: A Portrait of Resilience and Agency
Beyond the scenic cliffs, St. Abbs is a masterclass in community resilience. Discover how this village transformed tragedy into a "doing" culture.
Léonie Blaire-Cooper
123 posts
Critical sociologist, field action researcher, and independent media creator focusing on the cultural and political landscapes of the borderlands.
The Stone and the Shadow: A Sociology of Fatlips Tower
Why do Scottish towers still stand while English ones vanish? A look at Fatlips Castle and the enduring shadow of the feudal system.
The Stale Cake and the Ministry: Reclaiming Our Digital Commons
The "Ministry of Truth" is forcing stale legacy media into our feeds. It’s time to reclaim our digital commons. Hands off our YouTube. #RealContent
Stark and Upright: A Vigil at Smailholm Tower
Standing on the crags of Smailholm, I reflect on the tower's brutal history—and how its legacy of power lingers in the landscape today.
The Architecture of Attrition: Mapping Modern Zersetzung and Co-Operational Stigmatisation
Modern Zersetzung doesn't use secret police. It manipulates social architecture, turning communities into self-policing panopticons.
The Architecture of Forced Erasure: Understanding Attrition-Based Stigmatisation and Reclaiming Our Rights
Elimination by attrition: how bad-faith actors weaponise public space, how institutions fail us, and how we fight to reclaim our rights.
Co-opting the Shepherd: The Hidden History Behind the Riddell Monument
There is a distinct shift that happens when you leave the digital rush behind and step into the Scottish Borders.
The Architecture of Absence: Institutional Stewardship and the Reclaiming of the Commons
Craik Forest has erased an entire area of our land, turning the Borthwick valley into a landscape hostile to public access. Discover why.
The Lived Soil: Memory and Resilience in the Borthwick Valley
Old stones, living roots, shared belonging. Explore how the history of the Borthwick Valley helps us connect and build a future together.
The Pending Horizon: A View from the Pews at Roberton Kirk
Aisle 33 is empty. At 52, I’m the youngest here. Roberton Kirk faces a sale, pulling an isolated Border valley 6 miles away to Hawick.
Rooted in the Borders: A Journey of Mindful Growth
From muck to rich compost, a journey of mindful growth. How a kitchen garden resists mass consumerism & uncovers true belonging.
The Alchemy of the Demijohn: Slow Living in a Fast World
A 1960s recipe, a flash of Border rain, and vibrant rhubarb must fizzing atop the piano. Step into our slow-living kitchen.
Showing of 123 posts