"Smart" for whom? Policy mobilities and the politics of the smart city in Japan and South Korea

Guest talk by Marco Zappa (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice).

Abstract

Since the early 21st century, the smart city has emerged globally as a policy idea to tackle problems caused by increased urbanism and respond to city dwellers' demands for, among other things, clean air and less traffic. Several governments across Asia, including Japan and South Korea, have been promoting the development of eco-cities, smart communities and all-encompassing new "smart" urban settlements. While in Europe and the US concerns and opposition have emerged around the privatization of public spaces by tech companies and surveillance, in several parts of Asia smart urbanism is gaining momentum against the backdrop of governments' resolve to achieve decarbonization, sustainability and disaster resilience. Based on the study of cases from Japan, and South Korea, and the two countries' development cooperation in Asia, this talk will attempt to shed light on the narrative frames, rationales and the modes in which policy ideas "travel" and are mobilized to achieve locale-specific aims.