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The ideological alignment of smart urbanism in Singapore: Critical reflections on a political paradox

Author

Listed:
  • Lily Kong

    (Singapore Management University, Singapore)

  • Orlando Woods

    (Singapore Management University, Singapore)

Abstract

Over the past decade, much has been written about the potential of smart urbanism to bring about various and lasting forms of betterment. The embedding of digital technologies within urban infrastructures has been well documented, and the efficiencies of smart models of urban governance and management have been lauded. More recently, however, the discourse has been labelled ‘hegemonic’, and accused of developing a view of smart technology that is blinkered by its failure to critique its socio-political effects. By focusing on the case of Singapore’s ‘Smart Nation’ initiative, this paper embraces the paradoxes at the heart of smart urbanism and, in doing so, interrogates the tension between ideology and praxis, efficiency and control, access and choice, and smart governance and smart citizenship. It also demonstrates how such tensions are (re)produced through ‘fourthspace’ – the digitally enabled spaces of urbanism that are co-created, and that contribute to an expansion and diffusion of social and political responsibility. It ends by suggesting how such spaces have the potential to radically transform not just the urban environment, but also the role of government and citizens in designing urban futures.

Suggested Citation

  • Lily Kong & Orlando Woods, 2018. "The ideological alignment of smart urbanism in Singapore: Critical reflections on a political paradox," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 55(4), pages 679-701, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:55:y:2018:i:4:p:679-701
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098017746528
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Trencher, Gregory, 2019. "Towards the smart city 2.0: Empirical evidence of using smartness as a tool for tackling social challenges," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 117-128.

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