Socio-political components in the design of smart city strategies as a basis of their sustainable development

Abstract

This article discusses the distinctive characteristics of the development of smart city technologies, which swept over all the continents of the planet during the fourth industrial revolution. The author focuses on the consideration of the socio-political effects due to the introduction of these technologies and, above all, the new threats and challenges that they generate. These include the increase of technological inequality, the danger of complete control of information and the tightening of the space of an individual’s personal freedom, social disunity and degradation of urban communities. The technological breakthrough was in clear contradiction with the dynamics of social development. One of the possible ways to overcome the problem of social and technological inequality is with the concept of a smart city focused on sustainable development, which offers an integrated approach to urban policy. The general conclusion that the author comes to is the need for balanced consideration of all components in smart city development projects, in addition to technological and service components. At the same time, the formation of a space for equal social communication, the institutionalization of urban communities, as well as co-social planning for the development of the urban ecosystem are of particular importance. Only if they are fully implemented can we hope for positive dynamics in overcoming new social and political challenges to urban development in the era of total digitalization.