The Transformation of Urban and Digital Spaces from a Democratic Perspective

Large cities are in the midst of a process of transformation, having to face major challenges of global dimensions, such as the climate and energy crisis, the high levels of growing inequality, and the impacts of the global financial economy. Digital networks are in a similar situation with increasing risks: the growing privatisation of infrastructures and concentration of power of large technology companies, their energy and climate impacts, and new forms of violence and discrimination in social networks. Indeed, the urban and digital spaces share many characteristics, but most importantly, the common challenge of their democratic governance. Based on an analogy between the urban and the digital, this paper will discuss issues including their spatiality, ecological impact, policies and forms of governance, and social uses. From the dialogue between these dimensions, some possibilities are explored for thinking about the challenges that lie ahead of both spaces. Finally, taking into account that the urban and digital spaces fully converge in big cities, some challenges are pointed out on how to face the democratic debate and the forms of democratic governance of the urban and digital space within cities.