People-oriented Smart City Policy in Riga and Istanbul Urban Planning Documents

Abstract

Becoming a smart city is a widely pursued objective for cities around the world. Over time, this concept has not been limited to technology but has become mainly focused on people. This article examines urban planning documents for the development of two cities (Riga and Istanbul) into smart cities in countries with different political regimes (Latvia and Turkey). A document analysis and its comparison revealed that, contrary to what might initially be assumed, the flawed democracy of Riga reflects policies that aim to meet people’s needs; however, they are not actively included in the decision-making process. Meanwhile, in the hybrid regime city of Istanbul, people’s participation in smart city governance processes is institutionalized and embedded in structures, with specific roles assigned in the urban planning document.