Municipal Innovation in Democratic Public Ownership

The role of municipalities has transformed over the years – from a paternalistic provider of services to a facilitator and partner with central government. Its new role promotes co-governance of resources and assets. The EU-funded MIDPO project will study whether this role involves a form of 'prefigurative state thinking' that requires new theories on the relationship between civil society and the state. Specifically, the project will develop an evidence-led typology of innovations in democratic public ownership. It will also determine whether innovations in public ownership contribute to a ‘feminisation’ and ‘democratisation’ of urban life. The findings will shed light on the changing relationship between civil society and the state.