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(Smart) Citizens from Data Providers to Decision-Makers? The Case Study of Barcelona

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  • Igor Calzada

    (Urban Transformations ESRC & Future of Cities Programmes, COMPAS, University of Oxford, 58 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6QS, UK
    Global Sustainable Cities, Institute for Future Cities, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), Technology & Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde, 99 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD, Scotland, UK)

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) taking effect in the European Union (EU), a debate emerged about the role of citizens and their relationship with data. European city authorities claim that (smart) citizens are as important to a successful smart city program as data and technology are, and that those citizens must be convinced of the benefits and security of such initiatives. This paper examines how the city of Barcelona is marking a transition from the conventional, hegemonic smart city approach to a new paradigm—the experimental city. Through (i) a literature review, (ii) carrying out twenty in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, and (iii) actively participating in three symposiums in Barcelona from September 2017 to March 2018, this paper elucidates how (smart) citizens are increasingly considered decision-makers rather than data providers. This paper considers (i) the implications of the technopolitics of data ownership and, as a result, (ii) the ongoing implementation of the Digital Plan 2017–2020, its three experimental strategies, and the related seven strategic initiatives. This paper concludes that, from the policy perspective, smartness may not be appealing in Barcelona, although the experimental approach has yet to be entirely established as a paradigm.

Suggested Citation

  • Igor Calzada, 2018. "(Smart) Citizens from Data Providers to Decision-Makers? The Case Study of Barcelona," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:9:p:3252-:d:169279
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    Cited by:

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    2. Małgorzata Mańka-Szulik & Dariusz Krawczyk & Krzysztof Wodarski, 2023. "Residents’ Perceptions of Challenges Related to Implementation of Smart City Solutions by Local Government," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-11, May.
    3. Goggin, Gerard & Vromen, Ariadne & Weatherall, Kimberlee & Martin, Fiona & Sunman, Lucy, 2019. "Data and digital rights: recent Australian developments," Internet Policy Review: Journal on Internet Regulation, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), Berlin, vol. 8(1), pages 1-19.
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    5. Mihai-Răzvan Sanda & Cristina-Petrina Trincu-Dragusin, 2021. "Supreme Audit Institutions and the Strive Towards an Open Data Culture," Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 0(2), pages 1120-1130, December.
    6. Aurore Fransolet & Julien Vastenaekels, 2023. "Reconciling the Just and Sustainable City in the Era of Just Transition: A Review of Urban Visions," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/364471, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    7. Bipashyee Ghosh & Saurabh Arora, 2022. "Smart as (un)democratic? The making of a smart city imaginary in Kolkata, India," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 40(1), pages 318-339, February.
    8. Eva M. Sánchez-Teba & Guillermo J. Bermúdez-González, 2019. "Are Smart-City Projects Citizen-Centered?," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-9, November.
    9. Fenna Imara Hoefsloot & Javier Martínez & Christine Richter & Karin Pfeffer, 2020. "Expert-Amateurs and Smart Citizens: How Digitalization Reconfigures Lima’s Water Infrastructure," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(4), pages 312-323.
    10. Julsrud, Dr. Tom Erik & Krogstad, Dr. Julie Runde, 2020. "Is there enough trust for the smart city? exploring acceptance for use of mobile phone data in oslo and tallinn," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    11. Julien Mercille, 2021. "Inclusive Smart Cities: Beyond Voluntary Corporate Data Sharing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-13, July.
    12. Veronika Andrea & Stilianos Tampakis & Paraskevi Karanikola & Maria Georgopoulou, 2020. "The Citizens’ Views on Adaptation to Bioclimatic Housing Design: Case Study from Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-18, June.
    13. Igor Calzada, 2021. "The Right to Have Digital Rights in Smart Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-28, October.
    14. Negar Noori & Thomas Hoppe & Martin de Jong, 2020. "Classifying Pathways for Smart City Development: Comparing Design, Governance and Implementation in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-24, May.
    15. A. V. Baranov & L. N. Garas, 2022. "«Smart City» in Socio-Political Projection (The Case of Barcelona)," Administrative Consulting, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. North-West Institute of Management., issue 1.
    16. Marco Romagnoli, 2021. "The Other’s Wave: Ethnographic Insights on Three “Tsunamis of Tourism” in Barcelona," Journal of Tourismology, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 7(1), pages 101-121, June.
    17. Cristina Martín & Tony Castillo-Calzadilla & Kristina Zabala & Eneko Arrizabalaga & Patxi Hernández & Lara Mabe, 2021. "The opportunity for smart city projects at municipal scale: Implementing a positive energy district in Zorrozaurre," EKONOMIAZ. Revista vasca de Economía, Gobierno Vasco / Eusko Jaurlaritza / Basque Government, vol. 99(01), pages 119-149.
    18. Maxime Malafosse & Amandine Pascal, 2022. "La blockchain à Barcelone on sait « commun » faire !," Post-Print hal-03891500, HAL.
    19. Tali Hatuka & Hadas Zur, 2020. "Who is the ‘smart’ resident in the digital age? The varied profiles of users and non-users in the contemporary city," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(6), pages 1260-1283, May.
    20. Miltiades D. Lytras & Anna Visvizi, 2019. "Big Data and Their Social Impact: Preliminary Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-18, September.
    21. Estela Marine-Roig, 2021. "Measuring Online Destination Image, Satisfaction, and Loyalty: Evidence from Barcelona Districts," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-17, January.
    22. Ayyoob Sharifi & Zaheer Allam, 2022. "On the taxonomy of smart city indicators and their alignment with sustainability and resilience," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 49(5), pages 1536-1555, June.
    23. Ayyoob Sharifi & Zaheer Allam & Bakhtiar Feizizadeh & Hessam Ghamari, 2021. "Three Decades of Research on Smart Cities: Mapping Knowledge Structure and Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-23, June.
    24. Igor Calzada, 2020. "Platform and Data Co-Operatives amidst European Pandemic Citizenship," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-22, October.
    25. Monika Wawer & Kalina Grzesiuk & Dorota Jegorow, 2022. "Smart Mobility in a Smart City in the Context of Generation Z Sustainability, Use of ICT, and Participation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-30, June.

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