Smith, Adrian and Prieto Martin, Pedro (2020) Going beyond the smart city? Implementing technopolitical platforms for urban democracy in Madrid and Barcelona. Journal of Urban Technology. pp. 1-20. ISSN 1063-0732

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Abstract

Digital platforms for urban democracy are analyzed in Madrid and Barcelona. These platforms permit citizens to debate urban issues with other citizens; to propose developments, plans, and policies for city authorities; and to influence how city budgets are spent. Contrasting with neoliberal assumptions about Smart Citizenship, the technopolitics discourse underpinning these developments recognizes that the technologies facilitating participation have themselves to be developed democratically. That is, technopolitical platforms are built and operate as open, commons-based processes for learning, reflection, and adaptation. These features prove vital to platform implementation consistent with aspirations for citizen engagement and activism.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Democracy, digital platforms, technopolitics, Smart City, urban governance, technology
Schools and Departments:	University of Sussex Business School > SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Institute of Development Studies
Subjects:	H Social Sciences H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > HM0711 Groups and organisations > HM0756 Community J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General) T Technology > T Technology (General) > T0010 Communication of technical information T Technology > T Technology (General)
Depositing User:	Adrian Smith
Date Deposited:	05 Jun 2020 06:40
Last Modified:	20 Aug 2020 10:15
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/91621

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