(In)justice in Smart Cities: Barriers and an Integrative Framework for Solution Pathways From a Global Perspective

Smart city initiatives aim for sustainability and inclusiveness, but recent evidence shows that they often lead to injustices. Although this contradiction has received growing academic attention, a comprehensive understanding of how justice is addressed within smart city practices remains limited. Therefore, this study conducts a systematic review of 67 empirical articles to identify key barriers to achieving justice in smart city development, analyze their global distribution, and suggest pathways toward more equitable outcomes. Six major barriers were identified: institutional, legacy, economic, social, technical, and geographical, with institutional barriers being the most prominent globally. We found that barriers vary depending on the context. For instance, the Americas face governance shortcomings and infrastructural inequalities; Asia's rapid urbanization intensifies administrative weaknesses; Africa suffers from capacity and resource gaps; Oceania's rigid institutions obstruct inclusion; while in Europe, coordination challenges exist despite stronger governance systems. To address these challenges, the study proposes a governance‐centered framework emphasizing justice integration across planning and implementation, supporting the advancement of Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 16.