Abstract

DONADIO, Tomás. Rethink the smart city or go back to the “old normal”? A reflection on the case of lisbon in the context of COVID-19. Finisterra [online]. 2020, n.115, pp.121-126.  Epub Dec 31, 2020. ISSN 0430-5027.  https://doi.org/10.18055/finis20214.

Reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic suggest that this crisis can be interpreted as an opportunity to rethink the capitalist system and avoid a return to the “old normal”. In this line of thought, this article approaches the critical debate on smart city development and underlines the reformulation of these policies through more democratic models. Pursuing more desirable and sustainable urban futures, we must question the ultimate goal of economic growth as a model for urban futures. That is, to combat the perpetuation of policies based on technological solutions that, in addition to accentuating privacy issues, fail to meet citizen’s needs, especially of the most vulnerable groups. In sum, the historic moment serves as an opportunity to rethink and encourage paradigm shifts such as the development of more inclusive smart cities.

Keywords : Neoliberal smart city; social inclusion; technological sovereignty; urban futures; paradigm shift.

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