Participation Processes and Urbanism in Mataró
Author
Gonzalez Gonzalo, Enric
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2023
Submitted on
2023-06-01
Pages
151
Abstract
This thesis examines how public participation operates in Mataró, with a particular focus on the Cerdanyola neighborhood and on citizen-led practices such as tactical urbanism. It addresses the broader challenge that rapidly growing cities are often planned top-down, while informal, bottom-up interventions show how urban space can also be shaped by those who use it. The core questions are how Mataró’s participation processes are organized, whom they represent, and how they can be strengthened so that more diverse voices have meaningful influence. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative case approach combining interviews with municipal actors and community members with document and literature analysis. The analysis is framed by Henri Lefebvre’s Right to the City and Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation and reviews municipal tools including hearings, councils, and participatory budgets. Findings indicate that existing processes are overly institutionalized and do not fully reflect the diversity of community needs. While progress has been made, there is a need to deinstitutionalize participation, redistribute agency and resources, and empower residents through community-driven initiatives. The study concludes that a more inclusive and participatory urban development in Mataró requires a fundamental reimagining of the public’s role in planning the city’s future.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan borgerinddragelse fungerer i Mataró, med særlig opmærksomhed på bydelen Cerdanyola og på borgerdrevne tiltag som taktisk urbanisme. Udgangspunktet er den brede udfordring, at hurtigt voksende byer ofte planlægges top-down, mens uformelle, bottom-up indsatser viser, hvordan byrum også kan formes af dem, der bruger dem. Afhandlingens kerne spørgsmål er, hvordan Matarós deltagelsesprocesser er organiseret, hvem de egentlig repræsenterer, og hvordan de kan styrkes, så flere og mere mangfoldige stemmer får reel indflydelse. Metodisk bygger studiet på en kvalitativ casetilgang med interviews af kommunale aktører og borgere samt dokument- og litteraturstudier. Analysen er teoretisk rammesat af Henri Lefebvres Right to the City og Arnsteins Ladder of Citizen Participation og gennemgår kommunens værktøjer, herunder høringer, råd og borgerbudgetter. Resultaterne peger på, at processerne er overdrevent institutionaliserede og ikke fuldt ud afspejler lokalsamfundets diversitet. Der er opnået fremskridt, men der er behov for at afinstitutionalisere deltagelse, omfordele handlekraft og ressourcer samt styrke borgernes rolle gennem lokale, græsrodsbaserede initiativer. Afhandlingen fremhæver, at en mere inkluderende og deltagende byudvikling forudsætter en grundlæggende gentænkning af offentlighedens rolle i planlægningen af Matarós fremtid.
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