Studia Humanistyczne AGH
Loading...
ISSN 2084-3364
e-ISSN: 2300-7109
Issue Date
2022
Volume
T. 21
Number
Nr 4
Description
Journal Volume
Studia Humanistyczne AGH
T. 21 (2022)
Projects
Pages
Articles
Platformization of politics in non-democracies: spaces of participatory experiments in Belarus in 2020s
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2022) Liubimau, Siarhei
This paper's focus is on the innovations in the urban public political agenda that are due to the interplay between participatory digital platforms, the socio-economic paths of specific urban environments, and long-term policy orientations on the national and urban levels. The context of the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus and the resulting boom of participation in the local and national political agendas is taken here as a particular configuration of the mentioned interplay and its outcomes. The first part of the paper focuses on the role of digital platforms in the studied boom of participation in 2020, the second documents the urban policy developments in Belarus during the period of 2015–2020, and the third reflects on the compatibility of the Belarusian case with wider discussions on the political impact that the spread of digital platforms has on urbanism. It is argued that the repressive state, the gradual marketization of urban development and the accompanying strengthening of urban dwellers' economic autonomy, and the proliferation of commercial digital platforms and civic tech are the factors that have defined the studied politicization and the boom of participation in Belarus. The examined case shows the contours of emerging politics in non-democracies under conditions of ubiquitous digitalization and the pressure on the state’s redistributive capacities.
Role of digital tools in community management and urban participation (evidence of Belarus)
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2022) Lebedeva, Elena
This article is devoted to an analysis of the »hybrid neighborhood« phenomenon. Traditionally, a Soviet residential yard is presented in urban studies as the sphere of a neighbor’s active participation. The post-Soviet changes have significantly weakened the activities of neighbor communities, however, the spread of digital communication tools (social networks and messengers) has led to an increase in civic engagement in cities (new forms of neighboring communities are created, traditions of spending time together with neighbors revived, and individuals are actively involving in the struggle for their »place in the city«). The empirical materials that are analyzed reveal the features of neighbors interacting demonstrate the differences between »neighbor« and »civil« communication modes, define the role of online communities in local self-government, and practically implement the »right to the city«.
Creative industries as platform for citizen participation in cultural transformation of Minsk urban space
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2022) Krivolap, Alexei
Creative industries do not make revolutions in city planning but transform the ways of thinking about and practicing urban space development. In the context of Minsk, Belarus, creative industries are a part of the contemporary urban infrastructure transformation that is reestablishing the former Soviet urban space. The aim of this article is to document and analyze the ways that creative industries turn the urban spaces of Minsk into participatory platforms for cultural transformations. The development of these creative industries in Belarus has played a crucial role in transforming urban spaces into new inclusive cities. The distinctive feature of Belarusian creative industries is their embeddedness in the spaces of Soviet cities. Empirically, this text is based on the findings of a qualitative empirical study in the framework of grounded theory. The research seeks to understand the self-narrative and self-identification of the new creative class in Minsk (spring and summer 2018). The respondents were people who are involved in the process of developing creative industries in Belarus.
How to develop connective digital platform for urban activism in unfree country: case of »Robim Good« project
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2022) Kalavur, Andrei
This article aims to analyze the »Robim Good« project – a digital platform for sharing urban knowledge and info about upcoming local campaigns. A vacuum among urban initiatives was established in Belarus because of the repressive policy of the authoritarian regime. As a result, around 965 non-profit organizations have been shut down. Nonetheless, there was a demand from activists to create a safe managerial organization that focused on urbanism. The »Robim Good« project became a solution. The research question is as follows: what is the value orientation of the analyzed digital platform that attracts new participants? The paper applies the value-based approach in NGO engagement. The analysis shows that one of the main promoted values and key characteristics of the digital ecosystem is security, which is directed at overcoming the dangers of the unpredictable regime. Subsequently, »Robim Good« has been able to engage volunteers and survive after a year of activity.
Shift in balance: UK perspective on democratic deficit addressed by participatory turn and gamification
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2022) Duke, Benjamin
This paper provides a conceptual theoretical review of participatory turn and gamification from a United Kingdom (UK) perspective. Democratic deficit is a perennial problem in urban-planning systems due to the number of causal factors. Participatory practices and gamification are two instruments that can be used to help alleviate low democratic responsiveness. The paper articulates how there are different ways of knowing and assessing community priorities and values – people need increased consciousness and self-confidence to participate. The UK case studies that are discussed have made a significant contribution by providing useful insights regarding the benefits and limitations of participatory practices and gamification. For example, »Participology« and »Geogopoly« have clear participatory gamification benefits even though they are unable to include decision-maker accountability or recreate real-life power relationships. This paper posits that the use of participatory practices and/or gamification as policy levers (specifically in UK urban-planning processes) will herald a shift in the balance of power.