Meta-Synthesis of Urban Governance Concept from the Perspective of Smart Cities
Sousan Shirvani Moghadam
1
(
Department of urbanism, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
)
mohsen moradi
2
(
Department of Management, Imam Reza International University, Mashhad, Iran
)
sanaz saeedi mofrad
3
(
Department of urbanism, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
)
Keywords: Urban governance, smart cities, information and communication technology, Meta-Syntheses,
Abstract :
The rapid pace of urbanization and technological advances has necessitated the evolution of urban governance models to effectively address complex urban challenges. Traditionally, urban governance has involved hierarchical and bureaucratic structures in which city governments play a central role. However, the emergence of smart cities characterized by the use of information and communication technologies to enhance urban services and infrastructure requires a rethinking of these traditional models. This article aims to conduct a meta-synthesis of the concept of urban governance from the perspective of a smart city. A meta-synthesis approach systematically examines and integrates existing research to gain insights and identify trends and gaps. Focusing on urban governance and smart cities, this study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the goals, components, and contexts of smart city governance and to develop a conceptual framework. Based on this study, the framework for urban governance from the perspective of a smart city includes the social and spatial context, three interconnected components (institutions, technology, and urban space), and four goals (economic, political, ecological, and cultural). The logic of this framework reveals a potential relationship between the social and spatial context and smart urban governance, where the impact of the social and spatial context on smart urban governance relies on the interaction between technology, institutions, and urban space. Smart urban governance aims to achieve desired goals, and the feedback effects of these goals on the social and spatial context are evident. Therefore, smart city governance can be defined as a dynamic structure that operates within specific social and spatial frameworks through the interaction of technology, institutions, and urban space. It is set within the contexts of productivity and innovation, human-social capital and value, public services, spatial capital, livability, psychological capital, and well-being, all contributing to economic, political, ecological, and cultural goals.