Authors: Benoit Graniera and Hiroko Kudob
Date of publish: February 2016
Why did we conduct this research:
To better understand how the dynamics within smart cities or smart communities work in a specific context, be it in this case the Japanese one. The paper investigates the role of Japanese citizens within smart communities as well as using this participation as a policy instrument achieving acceptance. An analysis on the model of the Japanese approach to smart city governance is provided as too.
Key findings:
- Due to smart communities in Japan being so new, no grounded extrapolations can be made, so no assumptions can be made yet.
- Citizen participation is a clear feature of smart communities. One key point to explain this is the heavy presence of technology in smart communities, which help to communicate more effectively as well.
- Citizen's behaviour changes due to the "real-time" responses.
- Citizen involvement in smart cities can be viewed as a disciplinary strategy and perceived as a means rather than as an end in itself.
Reference:
Granier, B., & Kudo, H. (2016). How are citizens involved in smart cities? Analysing citizen participation in Japanese``Smart Communities''. Information Polity, 21(1), 61-76.
