The Social Production of Smart Cities: A Critical Sociology of Technology, Governance, and Citizenship in Digital Urbanism

Abstract

The concept of smart cities extends beyond the integration of technological systems; it is a social process where technology, governance, and citizenship are mutually constructed. This paper adopts a critical sociology perspective to explore the socio-technical production mechanisms of "smart cities" within digital urbanism.  Through comparative case studies of Hangzhou, Singapore, and Barcelona, this research examines how the Internet of Things (IoT), big data platforms, and urban brains reshape governmental governance logic, public service delivery methods, and citizen participation spaces.  The study reveals that the deployment of these technologies often becomes embedded in existing power structures, leading to issues such as "data bureaucratization," "superficial participation," and "digital exclusion." True smart cities should transcend instrumental rationality and shift towards citizen-centric "responsive governance," emphasizing transparency, inclusiveness, and techno-democracy.