Participatory public space: a right to the networked city

Investigators

Professor Nikos Papastergiadis, Professor Scott McQuire, Dr Danny Butt.

About

This project explores the potential for employing pervasive digital networks to deepen citizen engagement in the organisation and utilisation of public space. Digital networks such as Australia’s NBN are transforming the relation between communication, social agency and place. Our work focuses on the formative role of mediating factors such as professional and institutional practices, policy settings and cultural dispositions, which translate this new technological capacity into social and political outcomes. By conducting extensive fieldwork in Australia, Europe and Asia, our aim is to produce a grounded theory of the conditions under which more sustainable forms of participatory public space can be facilitated in networked cities.

Funding

Australia Research Council, Discovery Project

Period

2012-2016