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Against the backdrop of the current hyperconnected and highly virialised post-COVID-19 societies, we, ‘pandemic citizens’, wherever we are located now, have already become tiny chips inside an algorithmic giant system that nobody really understands. Furthermore, over the last decade, the increasing propagation of sensors and data collections machines and data collections machines in the so-called Smart Cities by both the public and the private sector has created democratic challenges around AI, surveillance capitalism, and protecting citizens’ digital rights to privacy and ownership. Consequently, the demise of democracy is clearly already one of the biggest policy challenges of our time, and the undermining of citizens’ digital rights is part of this issue, particularly when many ‘pandemic citizens’ will likely be unemployed during the COVID-19 crisis. Amidst the AI-driven algorithmic disruption and surveillance capitalism, this book review sheds light on the way citizens take control of the Smart City, and not viceversa, by revolving around the new book entitled Smart City Citizenship recently published by Elsevier. The book review introduces nine key ideas including how to (1) deconstruct, (2) unplug, (3) decipher, (4) democratise, (5) replicate, (6) devolve, (7) commonise, (8) protect, and (9) reset Smart City Citizenship.
Igor Calzada. Book Review: Smart City Citizenship. Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs 2021, 5, 113 -118.
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Book Review: Smart City Citizenship. Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs. 2021; 5 (1):113-118.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2021. "Book Review: Smart City Citizenship." Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs 5, no. 1: 113-118.
This chapter focuses on the hegemonic smart city approach in the European H2020 institutional framework that is slowly evolving into a new citizen-centric paradigm called the experimental city. While this evolution incorporates Social Innovations—including urban co-operative platforms that are flourishing as (smart) citizens are increasingly considered decision-makers rather than data providers—certain underlying ethical and democratic issues concerning the techno-politics of data remain unresolved. This chapter deciphers the meaning of data-driven smart cities by helping to understand the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and the algorithmic disruption in citizens. This chapter helps to understand new forms of Social Innovation slightly surfacing in European cities and regions in light of the post-GDPR data-driven landscape. This data-driven landscape has become dramatically critical in the aftermath of the post COVID-19 era. Data and platform co-operatives as the most common forms of urban co-operative platforms may emerge as an alternative to challenge digital platform capitalism.
Igor Calzada. DECIPHERING smart city citizenship: Techno-politics of data and urban co-operative platforms. Smart City Citizenship 2020, 37 -77.
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. DECIPHERING smart city citizenship: Techno-politics of data and urban co-operative platforms. Smart City Citizenship. 2020; ():37-77.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2020. "DECIPHERING smart city citizenship: Techno-politics of data and urban co-operative platforms." Smart City Citizenship , no. : 37-77.
Many European pandemic citizens will likely be unemployed during the COVID-19 crisis. This article explores whether it is possible to alter existing data governance extractivist models to incentivize the emergence of platform and data co-operatives to protect European pandemic citizens’ labor and digital rights. As such, this article aims to decipher the rationale behind the proliferation of platform and data co-operatives by responding to how new forms of co-operatives using digital technologies can provide feasible socio-economic alternatives to improve post-COVID-19 working conditions for vulnerable or already empowered pandemic citizens. This article is structured as follows. First, the European “pandemic citizenship” term is described. Second, the rationale of this article is consequently presented. Third, the research question, two hypotheses, and the action research triangulation are described. The deployment of the triangulation methodology based on action research, mixed methods and social innovation reveals the main findings through (i) Delphi study results, (ii) a taxonomy for platform and data co-operative cases, and ultimately, (iii) fieldwork research conducted in Glasgow, Barcelona and Tallinn. This article concludes that co-operatives (platform-based or data-driven), stemming from the potential resilient response of European pandemic citizens, may currently portray a feasible alternative to data governance extractivist models.
Igor Calzada. Platform and Data Co-Operatives Amidst European Pandemic Citizenship. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8309 .
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Platform and Data Co-Operatives Amidst European Pandemic Citizenship. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (20):8309.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2020. "Platform and Data Co-Operatives Amidst European Pandemic Citizenship." Sustainability 12, no. 20: 8309.
Many European pandemic citizens will likely be unemployed during the COVID-19 crisis. This article explores whether it is possible to alter existing data governance extractivist models to incentivize the emergence of platform and data co-operatives to protect European pandemic citizens’ labor and digital rights. As such, this article aims to decipher the rationale behind the proliferation of platform and data co-operatives by responding to how new forms of co-operatives using digital technologies can provide feasible socio-economic alternatives to improve post-COVID-19 working conditions for vulnerable or already empowered pandemic citizens. This article is structured as follows. First, the European “pandemic citizenship” term is described. Second, the rationale of this article is consequently presented. Third, the research question, two hypotheses, and the action research triangulation are described. The deployment of the triangulation methodology based on action research, mixed methods and social innovation reveals the main findings through (i) Delphi study results, (ii) a taxonomy for platform and data co-operative cases, and ultimately, (iii) fieldwork research conducted in Glasgow, Barcelona and Tallinn. This article concludes that co-operatives (platform-based or data-driven), stemming from the potential resilient response of European pandemic citizens, may currently portray a feasible alternative to data governance extractivist models.
Igor Calzada. Platform and Data Co-operatives Amidst European Pandemic Citizenship. SSRN Electronic Journal 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Platform and Data Co-operatives Amidst European Pandemic Citizenship. SSRN Electronic Journal. 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2020. "Platform and Data Co-operatives Amidst European Pandemic Citizenship." SSRN Electronic Journal , no. : 1.
The smart cities policy approach has been intensively implemented in European cities under the Horizon 2020 programme. However, these implementations not only reduce the interdependencies among stakeholders to technocratic Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) models, but also fail to question the identities of strategic stakeholders and how they prioritise their business/social models. These aspects are putting democracy at stake in smart cities. Therefore, this article aims to unfold and operationalise multistakeholders’ policy frameworks from the social innovation perspective by suggesting the ex-novo penta-helix framework—including public, private, academia, civic society, and social entrepreneurs/activists—to extend the triple and quadruple-helix frameworks. Based on fieldwork action research conducted from February 2017 to December 2018—triangulating desk research, 75 interviews, and three validation workshops—this article applies the penta-helix framework to map out five strategic dimensions related to (i) multistakeholder helix framework and (ii) the resulting business/social models comparatively in three follower cities of the H2020-Replicate project: Essen (Germany), Lausanne (Switzerland), and Nilüfer (Turkey). For each case study, the findings reveal: (i) a unique multistakeholder composition, (ii) diverse preferences on business/social models, (iii) a regular presence of the fifth helix as intermediaries, and (iv) the willingness to experiment with democratic arrangements beyond the hegemonic PPP.
Igor Calzada. Democratising Smart Cities? Penta-Helix Multistakeholder Social Innovation Framework. Smart Cities 2020, 3, 1145 -1172.
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Democratising Smart Cities? Penta-Helix Multistakeholder Social Innovation Framework. Smart Cities. 2020; 3 (4):1145-1172.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2020. "Democratising Smart Cities? Penta-Helix Multistakeholder Social Innovation Framework." Smart Cities 3, no. 4: 1145-1172.
This article addresses the problem of replication among smart cities in the European Commission’s Horizon 2020: Smart Cities and Communities (EC-H2020-SCC) framework programme. This article initially sets the general policy context by conducting a benchmarking about the explicit replication strategies followed by each of the 17 ongoing EC-H2020-SCC lighthouse projects. This article aims to shed light on the following research question: Why might replication not be happening among smart cities as a unidirectional, hierarchical, mechanistic, solutionist, and technocratic process? Particularly, in asking so, it focuses on the EC-H2020-SCC Replicate project by examining in depth the fieldwork action research process implemented during 2019 through a knowledge exchange webinar series with participant stakeholders from six European cities—three lighthouse cities (St. Sebastian, Florence, and Bristol) and three follower-fellow cities (Essen, Lausanne, and Nilüfer). This process resulted in a City-to-City Learning Programme that reformulated the issue of replication by experimenting an alternative and an enhanced policy approach. Thus, stemming from the evidence-based policy outcomes of the City-to-City Learning Programme, this article reveals that a replication policy approach from the social innovation lenses might be enabled as a multidirectional, radial, dynamic, iterative, and democratic learning process, overcoming the given unidirectional, hierarchical, mechanistic, solutionist, and technocratic approach.
Igor Calzada. Replicating Smart Cities: The City-to-City Learning Programme in the Replicate EC-H2020-SCC Project. Smart Cities 2020, 3, 978 -1003.
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Replicating Smart Cities: The City-to-City Learning Programme in the Replicate EC-H2020-SCC Project. Smart Cities. 2020; 3 (3):978-1003.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2020. "Replicating Smart Cities: The City-to-City Learning Programme in the Replicate EC-H2020-SCC Project." Smart Cities 3, no. 3: 978-1003.
This article addresses the problem of replication among smart cities in the European Commission’s Horizon 2020: Smart Cities and Communities (EC-H2020-SCC) framework programme. This article initially sets the general policy context by conducting a benchmarking about the explicit replication strategies followed by each of the 17 ongoing EC-H2020-SCC lighthouse projects. This article aims to shed light on the following research question: Why might replication not be happening among smart cities as a unidirectional, hierarchical, mechanistic, solutionist, and technocratic process? Particularly, in asking so, it focuses on the EC-H2020-SCC Replicate project by examining in depth the fieldwork action research process implemented during 2019 through a knowledge exchange webinar series with participant stakeholders from six European cities—three lighthouse cities (St. Sebastian, Florence, and Bristol) and three follower-fellow cities (Essen, Lausanne, and Nilüfer). This process resulted in a City-to-City Learning Programme that reformulated the issue of replication by experimenting an alternative and an enhanced policy approach. Thus, stemming from the evidence-based policy outcomes of the City-to-City Learning Programme, this article reveals that a replication policy approach from the social innovation lenses might be enabled as a multidirectional, radial, dynamic, iterative, and democratic learning process, overcoming the given unidirectional, hierarchical, mechanistic, solutionist, and technocratic approach.
Igor Calzada. Replicating Smart Cities: The City-to-City Learning Programme in the Replicate EC-H2020-SCC Project. SSRN Electronic Journal 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Replicating Smart Cities: The City-to-City Learning Programme in the Replicate EC-H2020-SCC Project. SSRN Electronic Journal. 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2020. "Replicating Smart Cities: The City-to-City Learning Programme in the Replicate EC-H2020-SCC Project." SSRN Electronic Journal , no. : 1.
Basque Artikulu honen xedea, TeknoPolitika kontzeptua aurkeztea da, post COVID19 gizartearen erdigunetik. Artikuluak erreferentziak egiten dizkio egungo egoerra eta subirautza teknologikoa estrategikoki artikulatzeari ere.English This article has been written as a request from the association managing the Internet domain .EUS in the Basque Country (Spain). This article, in light of the current post COVID-19 momentum characterised by a pervasive dataveillance threat, suggests replacing or at least updating the terms ICT, digital environment, or NNTT, by the concept 'technopolitics'.
Igor Calzada. TeknoPolitika (TechnoPolitics). SSRN Electronic Journal 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. TeknoPolitika (TechnoPolitics). SSRN Electronic Journal. 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2020. "TeknoPolitika (TechnoPolitics)." SSRN Electronic Journal , no. : 1.
Purpose This paper aims to spark a debate by presenting the need for developing data ecosystems in Europe that meet the social and public good while committing to democratic and ethical standards; suggesting a taxonomy of data infrastructures and institutions to support this need; using the case study of Barcelona as the flagship city trailblazing a critical policy agenda of smart cities to show the limitations and contradictions of the current state of affairs; and ultimately, proposing a preliminary roadmap for institutional and governance empowerment that could enable effective data ecosystems in Europe. Design/methodology/approach This paper draws on lessons learned in previous publications available in the sustainability (Calzada, 2018), regions (Calzada and Cowie, 2017; Calzada, 2019), Zenodo (Calzada and Almirall, 2019), RSA Journal (Calzada, 2019) and IJIS (Calzada, 2020) journals and ongoing and updated fieldwork about the Barcelona case study stemming from an intensive fieldwork action research that started in 2017. The methodology used in these publications was based on the mixed-method technique of triangulation via action research encompassing in-depth interviews, direct participation in policy events and desk research. The case study was identified as the most effective methodology. Findings This paper, drawing from lessons learned from the Barcelona case study, elucidates on the need to establish pan-European data infrastructures and institutions – collectively data ecosystems – to protect citizens’ digital rights in European cities and regions. The paper reveals three main priorities proposing a preliminary roadmap for local and regional governments, namely, advocacy, suggesting the need for city and regional networks; governance, requiring guidance and applied, neutral and non-partisan research in policy; and pan-European agencies, leading and mobilising data infrastructures and institutions at the European level. Research limitations/implications From the very beginning, this paper acknowledges its ambition, and thus its limitations and clarifies its attempt to provide just an overview rather than a deep research analysis. This paper presents several research limitations and implications regarding the scope. The paper starts by presenting the need for data ecosystems, then structures this need through two taxonomies, all illustrated through the Barcelona case study and finally, concludes with a roadmap consisting of three priorities. The paper uses previous published and ongoing fieldwork findings in Barcelona as a way to lead, and thus encourage the proliferation of more cases through Cities Coalition for Digital Rights (CCDR). Practical implications This paper presents practical implications for local and regional authorities of the CCDR network. As such, the main three priorities of the preliminary roadmap could help those European cities and regions already part of the CCDR network to establish and build operational data ecosystems by establishing a comprehensive pan-European policy from the bottom-up that aligns with the timely policy developments advocated by the European Commission. This paper can inspire policymakers by providing guidelines to better coordinate among a diverse set of cities and regions in Europe. Social implications The leading data governance models worldwide from China and the USA and the advent of Big Data are dramatically reshaping citizens’ relationship with data. Against this backdrop and directly influenced by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Europe has, perhaps, for the first time, spoken with its own voice by blending data and smart city research and policy formulations. Inquiries and emerging insights into the potential urban experiments on data ecosystems, consisting of data infrastructures and institutions operating in European cities and regions, become increasingly crucial. Thus, the main social implications are for those multi-stakeholder policy schemes already operating in European cities and regions. Originality/value In previous research, data ecosystems were not directly related to digital rights amidst the global digital geopolitical context and, more specifically, were not connected to the two taxonomies (on data infrastructures and institutions) that could be directly applied to a case study, like the one presented about Barcelona. Thus, this paper shows novelty and originality by also opening up (based on previous fieldwork action research) a way to take strategic action to establish a pan-European strategy among cities and regions through three specific priorities. This paper can ultimately support practice and lead to new research and policy avenues.
Igor Calzada; Esteve Almirall. Data ecosystems for protecting European citizens’ digital rights. Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy 2020, 14, 133 -147.
AMA StyleIgor Calzada, Esteve Almirall. Data ecosystems for protecting European citizens’ digital rights. Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy. 2020; 14 (2):133-147.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada; Esteve Almirall. 2020. "Data ecosystems for protecting European citizens’ digital rights." Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy 14, no. 2: 133-147.
Review of: Smart City Barcelona: The Catalan Quest to Improve Future Urban Living, Antoni Vives (2018)Eastbourne: Sussex Academic Press, 231 pp.,ISBN 978-1-84519-918-0, h/bk, 1845199189 (e-Book), $31.80/$30.60
Igor Calzada. Smart City Barcelona: The Catalan Quest to Improve Future Urban Living, Antoni Vives (2018). International Journal of Iberian Studies 2020, 33, 103 -104.
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Smart City Barcelona: The Catalan Quest to Improve Future Urban Living, Antoni Vives (2018). International Journal of Iberian Studies. 2020; 33 (1):103-104.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2020. "Smart City Barcelona: The Catalan Quest to Improve Future Urban Living, Antoni Vives (2018)." International Journal of Iberian Studies 33, no. 1: 103-104.
This paper explores the subtle notion of unplugging to critically analyze thetechnological determinism of the Smart City. This exploration suggests that being digitally connected should not be perceived as gaining social capital. This article critiques the assumptions of the Smart City and proposes a 10-dimension conceptual framework. The first section of this article explores hyper-connected societies and how unplugging could be beneficial. The main subjects, Digital Natives, are discussed in the second section of this article. The third section is a decalogue on deconstructing the Smart City, and the final section presents key ideas and questions for future analysis.
Igor Calzada. Calzada, I. & Cobo, C. (2015), Unplugging: Deconstructing the Smart City. Journal of Urban Technology 22(1): 23-43. DOI: 10.1080/10630732.2014.971535. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Calzada, I. & Cobo, C. (2015), Unplugging: Deconstructing the Smart City. Journal of Urban Technology 22(1): 23-43. DOI: 10.1080/10630732.2014.971535. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2020. "Calzada, I. & Cobo, C. (2015), Unplugging: Deconstructing the Smart City. Journal of Urban Technology 22(1): 23-43. DOI: 10.1080/10630732.2014.971535." , no. : 1.
The hegemonic ‘smart city’ approach in the European H2020 institutional framework is slowly evolving into a new citizen-centric paradigm called the ‘experimental city’. While this evolution incorporates social innovations—including urban co-operative platforms that are flourishing as (smart) citizens are increasingly considered decision-makers rather than data providers—certain underlying ethical and democratic issues concerning the techno-politics of data remain unresolved. To cite this article: Calzada, I. (2018), Deciphering Smart City Citizenship: The Techno-Politics of Data and Urban Co-operative Platforms. RIEV, Revista Internacional de Estudios Vascos/International Journal on Basque Studies 63(1-2):42-81. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.24498.35524/6.
Igor Calzada. Deciphering Smart City Citizenship: The Techno-Politics of Data and Urban Co-operative Platforms. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Deciphering Smart City Citizenship: The Techno-Politics of Data and Urban Co-operative Platforms. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2020. "Deciphering Smart City Citizenship: The Techno-Politics of Data and Urban Co-operative Platforms." , no. : 1.
This chapter examines how state spaces throughout Europe are facing structural tensions as traditional ethnic nationalism increasingly comes into conflict with urban transformations. It argues that European citizenship is experiencing a unique set of city-regional and techno-political dynamics consisting of: (1) geotechnologics (driven by blockchain), (2) geopolitics (driven by dataism, the ideology of big data’s determinism), (3) geoeconomics (driven by populism), and (4) geodemocratics (driven by devolution). Given these tensions and their associated claimed rights, how will nation-states evolve? Will the urban age reconfigure the politics of nation-states through new and emerging citizenship regimes? Specifically, will the European Union evolve towards a post-national polity from a platform of established nation-states? Or will it head for a city-regionalized federal network of nations determined voluntarily and democratically? The chapter develops the concept of emerging citizenship regimes as a new theoretical framework for thinking about state rescaling by proposing four ideal types of citizenship: algorithmic, liquid, metropolitan and stateless. It challenges the existing interpretation of how current citizenship regimes are transforming the city-regional and techno-political configuration of European nation-states.
Igor Calzada. Emerging citizenship regimes and rescaling (European) nation-states: algorithmic, liquid, metropolitan and stateless citizenship ideal types. Handbook on the Changing Geographies of the State 2020, 368 -384.
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Emerging citizenship regimes and rescaling (European) nation-states: algorithmic, liquid, metropolitan and stateless citizenship ideal types. Handbook on the Changing Geographies of the State. 2020; ():368-384.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2020. "Emerging citizenship regimes and rescaling (European) nation-states: algorithmic, liquid, metropolitan and stateless citizenship ideal types." Handbook on the Changing Geographies of the State , no. : 368-384.
The Spanish nation‐state is gradually being rescaled by Catalonia's “secession crisis”. Recently and dramatically, in the aftermath of the “illegal” and “constitutive referendum” that took place on 1 October 2017, 2,286,217 Catalan citizens attempted to exercise the “right to decide” to ultimately become “stateless citizens”. This article examines this rescaling process that has been forming in Barcelona since 10 July 2010 when 1 million Catalan citizens marched to claim their “right to decide” on secession. This article concludes that, at present, it is not feasible for the Spanish nation‐state to accommodate Catalonia's “stateless citizenship”.
Igor Calzada. Catalonia rescaling Spain: Is it feasible to accommodate its “stateless citizenship”? Regional Science Policy & Practice 2019, 11, 805 -820.
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Catalonia rescaling Spain: Is it feasible to accommodate its “stateless citizenship”? Regional Science Policy & Practice. 2019; 11 (5):805-820.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2019. "Catalonia rescaling Spain: Is it feasible to accommodate its “stateless citizenship”?" Regional Science Policy & Practice 11, no. 5: 805-820.
Smart city policy approaches have been gradually transitioning in parallel with data policy regulations. This is the case for Barcelona, which has been executing its policy framework called ‘data commons’ with the goal of further grassroots-led urban experimentations. This paper examines to what extent the new paradigm of ‘data commons’ will remain and even be reinforced, given the ongoing local elections and the volatile political and regional context of the upcoming May 2019 elections. In doing so, this paper elaborates on the steps Barcelona has been taking, given the new ‘Declaration of Cities Coalition for Digital Rights’ signed by Barcelona, Amsterdam, and New York. Nonetheless, as a result and continuation of previous published fieldwork research, by applying the Penta Helix framework from a social innovation perspective, this paper questions why several implementations are being consolidated while others actually show a tension between two different models: ‘platform capitalism’ vs ‘platform co-operativism’. In regard to the former model, permanent strikes provoked by the Elite Taxi BCN association in August 2018 in response to the aftermath of big tech companies Cabify and Uber initially cleared to operate in Barcelona by the regional government, have demonstrated the negative side-effects of ‘platform capitalism’. By contrast, Som Energia is a successful case study based on the latter innovative business model, ‘platform co-operativism’, stemming from grassroots-led urban experimentation. This paper concludes by suggesting a synthesis regarding the ongoing platform revolution at stake, in light of the need for democratic accountability.
Igor Calzada; Esteve Almirall. Barcelona’s Grassroots-led Urban Experimentation: Deciphering the ‘Data Commons’ Policy Scheme. SSRN Electronic Journal 2019, 1 .
AMA StyleIgor Calzada, Esteve Almirall. Barcelona’s Grassroots-led Urban Experimentation: Deciphering the ‘Data Commons’ Policy Scheme. SSRN Electronic Journal. 2019; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada; Esteve Almirall. 2019. "Barcelona’s Grassroots-led Urban Experimentation: Deciphering the ‘Data Commons’ Policy Scheme." SSRN Electronic Journal , no. : 1.
Igor Calzada. Technological Sovereignty: Protecting Citizens’ Digital Rights in the AI-driven and post-GDPR Algorithmic and City-Regional European Realm. Regions 2019, 1 .
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Technological Sovereignty: Protecting Citizens’ Digital Rights in the AI-driven and post-GDPR Algorithmic and City-Regional European Realm. Regions. 2019; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2019. "Technological Sovereignty: Protecting Citizens’ Digital Rights in the AI-driven and post-GDPR Algorithmic and City-Regional European Realm." Regions , no. : 1.
Igor Calzada. Algorithmic Nations: Towards the Techno-Political (Basque) City-Region. Territories 2018, 1, 1 .
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Algorithmic Nations: Towards the Techno-Political (Basque) City-Region. Territories. 2018; 1 (1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2018. "Algorithmic Nations: Towards the Techno-Political (Basque) City-Region." Territories 1, no. 1: 1.
Against the backdrop of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) taking effect in the European Union (EU), a debate emerged about the role of citizens and their relationship with data. European city authorities claim that (smart) citizens are as important to a successful smart city program as data and technology are, and that those citizens must be convinced of the benefits and security of such initiatives. This paper examines how the city of Barcelona is marking a transition from the conventional, hegemonic smart city approach to a new paradigm—the experimental city. Through (i) a literature review, (ii) carrying out twenty in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, and (iii) actively participating in three symposiums in Barcelona from September 2017 to March 2018, this paper elucidates how (smart) citizens are increasingly considered decision-makers rather than data providers. This paper considers (i) the implications of the technopolitics of data ownership and, as a result, (ii) the ongoing implementation of the Digital Plan 2017–2020, its three experimental strategies, and the related seven strategic initiatives. This paper concludes that, from the policy perspective, smartness may not be appealing in Barcelona, although the experimental approach has yet to be entirely established as a paradigm.
Igor Calzada. (Smart) Citizens from Data Providers to Decision-Makers? The Case Study of Barcelona. Sustainability 2018, 10, 3252 .
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. (Smart) Citizens from Data Providers to Decision-Makers? The Case Study of Barcelona. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (9):3252.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2018. "(Smart) Citizens from Data Providers to Decision-Makers? The Case Study of Barcelona." Sustainability 10, no. 9: 3252.
This article introduces three small, European stateless nations that – invigorated by pervasive metropolitanisation phenomena – are increasingly shaping calls for devolution: Catalonia, the Basque Country and Scotland. These three nations are re-scaling their respective nation-states (Spain and the UK) in different ways: (i) being bolstered by their metropolitan hubs (Barcelona, Bilbao, and Glasgow) and (ii) generating a stateless ‘civic nationalism’ rooted in the metropolitan ‘right to decide’. Oppositional response to this ‘civic nationalism’ has re-emerged as state-centric ‘ethnic nationalism’. This article concludes that gaining or lacking metropolitan support for the ‘right to decide’ will establish the future directions of devolution debates.
Igor Calzada. Metropolitanising small European stateless city-regionalised nations. Space and Polity 2018, 22, 342 -361.
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Metropolitanising small European stateless city-regionalised nations. Space and Polity. 2018; 22 (3):342-361.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2018. "Metropolitanising small European stateless city-regionalised nations." Space and Polity 22, no. 3: 342-361.
This chapter examines how a new political regionalism pattern characterised by devolution and self-determination claims expressed and embodied via geo-democratic practices such as the ‘right to decide’ is emerging in three small, stateless and city-regional nations in Europe: Scotland, Catalonia and the Basque Country. Three main arguments are presented as the source of such diverse and pervasive city-regional ‘metropolitanisation’ processes: geo-economics, geo-politics and geo-democratics. This chapter posits that from the political regionalism perspective, geo-economic arguments claiming devolving powers are important, but in the event of being allowed the ability to hold a referendum by nation-states, however likely or unlikely, geo-political and geo-democratic manifestations count even more. Ultimately, is the ‘right to decide’ a potential ‘democratic’ extension of the ‘right to the city’? Insofar as these three small stateless nations are advocating a ‘civic nationalism’ appealing to ‘European’ values, the chapter concludes by exploring how devolution claims could increasingly ‘Europeanise’ the political regional agenda, in an ongoing push and pull of having ‘more say’ in the EU, fuelled by an increasing metropolitan drive and a bottom-up democratic experimentation towards the ‘right to decide’.
Igor Calzada. Political regionalism: devolution, metropolitanization and the right to decide. Handbook on the Geographies of Regions and Territories 2018, 231 -242.
AMA StyleIgor Calzada. Political regionalism: devolution, metropolitanization and the right to decide. Handbook on the Geographies of Regions and Territories. 2018; ():231-242.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIgor Calzada. 2018. "Political regionalism: devolution, metropolitanization and the right to decide." Handbook on the Geographies of Regions and Territories , no. : 231-242.