Kasper Friis Bavnbæk

Kasper Friis Bavnbæk is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Political Science and Public Management, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Southern Denmark. He is affiliated with the Danish Centre for Rural Research and actively contributes to research on rural development, spatial justice, and strategic village planning.

Research Interests:
His research centers on the intersection of justice, governance, and rural development. Key themes include spatial justice in municipal planning, endogenous and neo-endogenous development, and the role of civil society in village sustainability. He employs qualitative methods and discourse analysis to examine how planners and communities negotiate equity and viability in rural contexts.

Publication Trends:
His recent publications (2022–2025) consistently focus on rural strategic planning in Denmark, analyzing discourses of justice, barriers to implementation, and the dynamics between local associations and municipal authorities. The work bridges political science, public policy, and rural sociology, emphasizing participatory governance and equitable development.

• Scientific Awards:
• Esbjerg University Prize (2023)

Grants & Supervision:
He is a project participant in Fælles om Sundhed på Landet (2025–2026), investigating community-based health initiatives as a tool for rural planning. He has taught courses such as Human Rights and has co-presented workshops and lectures on rural civil society, public-private collaboration, and village viability.

Labs & Research Teams:
He collaborates closely with Dr. Anna Agnes Thuesen and other researchers within the Danish Centre for Rural Research. His work is embedded in interdisciplinary teams focusing on rural policy innovation, particularly exploring how health, civil society, and strategic planning can converge to strengthen rural communities.