The Right to the Smart City:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nThe Impact of New Technologies on Quality of Life, Social Relations, and Urban Politics<\/span><\/h3>\nProjekt NCN (SONATA BIS 8, Nr 2018\/30\/E\/HS6\/00379) \u2013 2019-2023<\/span><\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/286\/2025\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-9-cze-2025-18_15_21-modified-300x300.png\")
<\/span><\/p>\nThis project aims to investigate the consequences of technological development in the context of urban life. We seek to understand how digitalization and emerging technologies influence the quality of life of city dwellers, shape urban development, and inform city governance. Our primary focus is on how technology may affect the realization of democratic values, equality, and social justice in urban settings.<\/span><\/p>\nBy analyzing specific policy strategies and smart city initiatives in Singapore, Tallinn, and Warsaw, we aim to assess whether these developments come at the expense of quality of life and democratic integrity.<\/span><\/p>\nWe operate on the premise that ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) can significantly shape how urban residents perceive their rights and responsibilities toward their local environment, influencing behaviors toward fellow citizens, urban spaces, and municipal institutions.<\/span><\/p>\nDrawing on established sociological and psychological theories\u2014including the recently articulated concept of the \u201cdigital right to the city\u201d\u2014we aim to explore how technological innovation impacts residents\u2019 well-being, social cohesion, and the quality of local democracy. By \u201cquality of local democracy,\u201d we refer to the capacity of residents to articulate their interests and participate meaningfully in decisions that shape the future of their cities.<\/span><\/p>\nDespite growing interest in smart urban technologies, there remains a notable gap in the social sciences when it comes to in-depth research on the social and psychological consequences of technology implementation for urban quality of life and democratic participation. This project seeks to fill that gap by conducting foundational research to better understand the societal implications of technological transformations in cities around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nMethods:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nOur empirical focus will include comparative case studies of:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- \n
Singapore<\/strong> and Tallinn<\/strong> \u2014 both global leaders in smart city innovation<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Warsaw<\/strong> \u2014 where new technologies are introduced to improve democratic processes but face challenges such as resource management, social conflict, low community integration, and weak place attachment.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/286\/2025\/06\/484368128_1107151364543828_8814492684039630382_n-modified-300x231.png\")
<\/span><\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/286\/2025\/06\/Screenshot_5-300x78.png\")
<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\ud83d\udd2c Project Lead<\/span><\/h3>\nAnna Domaradzka\u2011Wid\u0142a<\/strong><\/a><\/span>
Institute of Social Studies, University of Warsaw<\/span><\/p>\n\ud83d\udc65 Research Team<\/span><\/h3>\n\n- Miko\u0142aj Biesaga<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
- Magdalena\u202fRoszczy\u0144ska\u2011Kurasi\u0144ska<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
- Mateusz Trochymiak<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
- Anna Wnuk<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
- Agata \u017bbikowska<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
- Ewa Domaradzka<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\nPublication in academic press\/journals:<\/span><\/h3>\n\n- \nNarratives of smart urbanism and their role in digitalization of urban services in Poland<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n\nAuthors: Mateusz Trochymiak, Anna Domaradzka, Monika Berdys, Celina Strzelecka<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcademic press: International Journal of Urban and Regional Research<\/em> (rok: 2024, tom: 1, strony: 45677), Publisher:\u00a0IJURR Foundation<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nStatus: In the process of publication<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nDOI: In the process of publication<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
- \nThe effect of the Pandemic on European Narratives on Smart Cities and Surveillance<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n\nAuthors: Miko\u0142aj Biesaga, Anna Domaradzka, Magdalena Roszczy\u0144ska-Kurasi\u0144ska, Szymon Talaga, Andrzej Nowak<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcademic press: Urban Studies<\/em> (rok: 2023, tom: Online first, strony: 45312), Publisher:\u00a0Sage<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nStatus: Published<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nDOI: 10.1177\/00420980221138317 –\u00a0link to the publication<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
- \nWhat shapes our attitudes towards algorithms in urban governance? The role of perceived friendliness and controllability of the city, and human-algorithm cooperation<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n\nAuthors: Tomasz Oleksy, Anna Wnuk, Anna Domaradzka, Dominika Maison<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcademic press: Computers in Human Behavior<\/em> (rok: 2023, tom: 142, strony: 45301), Publisher:\u00a0Elsevier<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nStatus: Published<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nDOI: 10.1016\/j.chb.2023.107653 –\u00a0link to the publication<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
- \nBeyond Data: Recognizing the Democratic Potential of Citizen Science<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n\nAuthors: M. Roszczy\u0144ska-Kurasi\u0144ska, A. Domaradzka, M. O’Grady, B. Bedessem, N. Tempini, M. Trochymiak, N. Wr\u00f3blewska<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcademic press: IEEE Technology and Society Magazine<\/em> (rok: 2023, tom: vol. 42, no. 4, strony: 47-56), Publisher:\u00a0IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nStatus: Published<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nDOI: 10.1109\/MTS.2023.3344904 –\u00a0link to the publication<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
- \nThe Civil City Framework for the Implementation of Nature-Based Smart Innovations: Right to a Healthy City Perspective<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n\nAuthors: Anna Domaradzka, Miko\u0142aj Biesaga, Ewa Domaradzka, Magdalena Ko\u0142odziejczyk<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcademic press: Sustainability<\/em> (rok: 2022, tom: 14, strony: 45311), Publisher:\u00a0MDPI<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nStatus: Published<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nDOI: 10.3390\/su14169887 –\u00a0link to the publication<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
- \nProsociality and endorsement of liberty: Communal and individual predictors of attitudes towards surveillance technologies<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n\nAuthors: Anna Wnuk, Tomasz Oleksy, Anna Domaradzka<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcademic press: Computers in Human Behavior<\/em> (rok: 2021, tom: 125, strony: 45303), Publisher:\u00a0Elsevier<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nStatus: Published<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Projekt NCN (SONATA BIS 8, Nr 2018\/30\/E\/HS6\/00379) \u2013 2019-2023<\/span><\/p>\n This project aims to investigate the consequences of technological development in the context of urban life. We seek to understand how digitalization and emerging technologies influence the quality of life of city dwellers, shape urban development, and inform city governance. Our primary focus is on how technology may affect the realization of democratic values, equality, and social justice in urban settings.<\/span><\/p>\n By analyzing specific policy strategies and smart city initiatives in Singapore, Tallinn, and Warsaw, we aim to assess whether these developments come at the expense of quality of life and democratic integrity.<\/span><\/p>\n We operate on the premise that ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) can significantly shape how urban residents perceive their rights and responsibilities toward their local environment, influencing behaviors toward fellow citizens, urban spaces, and municipal institutions.<\/span><\/p>\n Drawing on established sociological and psychological theories\u2014including the recently articulated concept of the \u201cdigital right to the city\u201d\u2014we aim to explore how technological innovation impacts residents\u2019 well-being, social cohesion, and the quality of local democracy. By \u201cquality of local democracy,\u201d we refer to the capacity of residents to articulate their interests and participate meaningfully in decisions that shape the future of their cities.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite growing interest in smart urban technologies, there remains a notable gap in the social sciences when it comes to in-depth research on the social and psychological consequences of technology implementation for urban quality of life and democratic participation. This project seeks to fill that gap by conducting foundational research to better understand the societal implications of technological transformations in cities around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n Methods:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Our empirical focus will include comparative case studies of:<\/span><\/p>\n Singapore<\/strong> and Tallinn<\/strong> \u2014 both global leaders in smart city innovation<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Warsaw<\/strong> \u2014 where new technologies are introduced to improve democratic processes but face challenges such as resource management, social conflict, low community integration, and weak place attachment.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n Anna Domaradzka\u2011Wid\u0142a<\/strong><\/a><\/span> <\/div>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\n
<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n\ud83d\udd2c Project Lead<\/span><\/h3>\n
Institute of Social Studies, University of Warsaw<\/span><\/p>\n\ud83d\udc65 Research Team<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
Publication in academic press\/journals:<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n