PUBLIC EMPOWERMENT THROUGH SMART URBANISM - CURRENT AND POTENTIAL FUTURE PRACTICES IN GATE 21
Author
Therkildsen, Camilla Rosendahl
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2021
Pages
57
Abstract
Specialet undersøger, hvordan borgernes empowerment (handlekraft og indflydelse) kan styrkes i Smart Urbanism-projekter. Smart Urbanism handler om at bruge digitale teknologier i byers planlægning, drift og styring for at øge effektiviteten. Det bliver ofte rost for at engagere offentligheden, men også kritiseret for at være teknokratisk og for at lade borgerinddragelse blive ved ord. Undersøgelsen ser på projekter i organisationen Gate 21. Gennem casestudier placeres organisationen i Smart Urbanism-paradigmet med elementer af dashboard-urbanisme (data og dashboards til at overvåge og beslutte), platform-urbanisme (fælles digitale og organisatoriske platforme) og empowerment-urbanisme (at give borgere reel handlemulighed). En intervention med projektledere peger på, at organisationen og dens eksisterende praksisser rummer potentiale til at styrke den offentlige dimension og fremme borgernes empowerment, men der er samtidig tilbageholdenhed over for at indføre stærke empowerment-strategier. To forhold forklarer især denne tilbageholdenhed: For det første er dyb borgerinddragelse vanskelig i teknisk komplekse projekter, og resultaterne af demonstrationsprojekter eller workshops får ikke nødvendigvis mere værdi af omfattende inddragelse. For det andet arbejder Gate 21 som partnerorganisation, hvor kommunernes behov driver projektudviklingen. Der er en stærk triple helix-kultur (samarbejde mellem kommuner, private virksomheder og videninstitutioner), og ansvaret for borgerinddragelse og empowerment anses for at ligge hos kommunerne i et repræsentativt demokrati. Afslutningsvis diskuteres offentlig empowerment i relation til idealisme, forståelser og fordybelse af demokratiet samt bæredygtighed, og specialet peger på udfordringen i at have empowerment som omdrejningspunkt for smart byudvikling og samtidig nå målene for bæredygtige byer.
This thesis examines how public empowerment (people’s agency and influence) can be strengthened in Smart Urbanism projects. Smart Urbanism refers to using digital technologies in city planning, management, and operations to improve efficiency. It is often praised for engaging the public, but also criticized as technocratic, with empowerment remaining largely rhetorical. The study focuses on projects within the organization Gate 21. Through case studies, the organization is situated within Smart Urbanism practices that combine elements of dashboard urbanism (using data and dashboards to monitor and decide), platform urbanism (building shared digital and organizational platforms), and empowerment urbanism (creating room for meaningful citizen agency). An intervention with project managers suggests the organization and its existing practices have potential to strengthen the public dimension and cultivate empowerment, yet there is hesitation to adopt strong empowerment strategies. Two main reasons explain this: First, deep public involvement is difficult in technically complex projects, and the outcomes of demonstration projects or workshops do not necessarily benefit from extensive participation. Second, Gate 21 works as a partner organization where municipal needs drive project development. It operates within a strong triple helix culture (collaboration among municipalities, private companies, and knowledge institutions), and responsibility for public involvement and empowerment is understood to lie with municipalities in a representative democracy. Finally, the thesis discusses public empowerment in relation to idealism, differing understandings and deepening of democracy, and sustainability, highlighting the challenge of keeping empowerment central in smart urban development while also achieving sustainable city goals.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
Documents