Saving urban planning from another utopian model

Abstract

Criticism of wide civic participation, as a mean for every citizen to actively engage himself in decision making, including planning processes, has a long history and numerous voices. Although the model is plausible for its openness and somewhat necessary for achievement of contemporary democratic standards (governance transparency, accountability etc.), civic participation has long been criticized for its ineffectiveness, inefficiency and utopian characteristics. Yet, the very notion of the need for public to participate in important decision making processes came along with another novelty — the development and the widespread use of informational technologies. Emerging genres of online platforms combine specific technologies with various actors and activities, thus fostering different types of interpersonal interactions. They are becoming a source of information and a platform for public expression, and complementing traditional media. It is inarguable that new technologies, which support deliberation and information dissemination, can contribute to the increase of civic participation. Completely new range of modes of expression enable citizens to give their voice and to be heard, while fast and different forms of information dissemination contribute to citizens awareness and knowledge about different matters. It may seem that the circle of conditions for successful civic participation is closed. In this article we will discuss the possibilities of civic participation/engagement in urban planning processes through informational technologies, in relation to conditions that civic participation needs and critiques it is exposed to.