Smart and/or participatory? A critical look at Smart City Cologne

Abstract

Smart City concepts promise simple solutions to a variety of complex socioecological problems and challenges. The various visions of the Smart City are based on the idea that digital technologies are the main driver for bringing about positive social and ecological changes. At its core, the smart approach strives for increases in efficiency through the digitalization of various areas and sectors – especially in urban administration, energy, and transport. As such, smartness is seen to create new opportunities for cities to combine economic growth, sustainability and climate protection. In addition, the digitalization of the city comes with the promise of increased urban democracy. New digital participation opportunities and bottomup processes in the Smart City are framed with an “everyone can participate” rhetoric. In this context, the paper examines the role of participation and civic involvement within Smart City platforms by analyzing the process by which the Smart City was founded and implemented in Cologne. The empirical investigation focuses on the supposed discrepancy between aspiration and reality. Theoretically and conceptually, the article links the postpolitical city debate with questions about the significance of civic participation in socioecological transformation processes. Based on semistructured expert interviews and extensive document analysis, the article explains how the smartification of urban development in Cologne is conceptually anchored and locally negotiated and implemented.