Between the possible and the impossible: a critical reflection on co-productive processes of a transformative nature

Authors

  • Medea Ferrigno
  • Venera Pavone
  • Anna Paola Quaglia
  • David Mascali

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13133/2532-6562/18864

Keywords:

coproduction, learning, democracy

Abstract

The paper discusses transformative coproduction processes, focusing on the BiodiverCities project, an initiative promoted by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission that involved ten European cities, including Regalbuto, a small town in inland Sicily. Methodologically following John Forester’s proposal, the contribution offers a critical ‘eight-handed’ reflection based on the practice stories of the authors involved in the process from different positions (institutional, technical, and civic). The article investigates the possibility that the learning triggered in coproduction interaction fields can become an enabling mechanism for transformative processes, implementing permanent devices capable of significantly transforming both the territory in which they operate and the actors involved. The article concludes by proposing the creation of permanent democratic infrastructures capable of integrating technical, intellectual, and social knowledge, promoting a deep problematization of collective needs and a new more future-oriented vision of democracy.

References

Albrechts L. (2013). «Reframing strategic spatial planning by using a coproduction perspective». Planning Theory, 12(1): 46–63.

Bandola-Gill J., Arthur M., Leng R. I. (2023). «What is co-production? Conceptualising and understanding co-production of knowledge and policy across different theoretical perspectives». Evidence & Policy, 19(2), 275-298. DOI:10.1332/174426421X16420955772641

Barbanente A. (2020). «Democrazia in azione e governo del territorio: divergenze e connessioni possibili». Scienze del Territorio, 8. DOI: 10.13128/sdt-11926

Barbera F. (2023). Le piazze vuote. Ritrovare gli spazi della politica. Bari: Laterza.

Bartels K.P.R., Wittmayer J. M. (2018). Action Research in Policy Analysis. Critical and Relational Approaches to Sustainability Transitions. London: Routledge.

Bovaird T.(2007). «Beyond Engagement and Participation: User and Community Coproduction of Public Services». Public Administration Review 67 (5): 846–860. DOI:10.1111/puar.2007.67.issue-5

Bussu S., Bua A., Dean R.,Smith G. (2023). «Introduction: Embedding participatory governance». Critical Policy Studies, 16 (2): 133-145. DOI: 10.1080/19460171.2022.2053179.

Chambers J. M., Wyborn C., Klenk N. L., Ryan M., Serban A., Bennett N. J,. Rondeau, R. (2022). «Co-productive agility and four collaborative pathways to sustainability transformations». Global Environmental Change, 72. DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102422.

De Leonardis O. (2001). Le Istituzioni. Come e perché parlarne. Roma: Carocci.

Di Mascio F., Natalini A., Ongaro E. (2021). «Resilience without resistance: public administration under mutating populisms in office in Italy», 47-75, In: Bauer M., Peters B., J. Pierre J., Yesilkagit K., Becker S. (Eds). Democratic Backsliding and Public Administration: How Populists in Government Transform State Bureaucracies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Dobson A. (2014). Listening for Democracy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Donolo C. (1997). L’intelligenza delle istituzioni. Milano: Feltrinelli.

Falanga R. (2024). «Democratic innovations: is the local scale (still) the ideal laboratory for democracy?», Local Government Studies, 50(6): 1052-1061. DOI:10.1080/03003930.2024.2407010

Forester J. (1993). «Learning from Practice Stories: The Priority of Practical Judgment». In: Fischer F., Forester J. The Argumentative Turn in Policy Analysis and Planning. New York: Duke University Press. 186-210. DOI: 10.1515/9780822381815-009

Forester, J. (2007). «A Grounded Method to Explore Dispute Resolution Strategies In Asia: Studying Practice Stories». Prepared as a keynote for the International Workshop on Comparative Public Conflict Resolution: Development of public policy consensus building theory and practice in Asia, November 15-16, Seoul. https://courses2.cit.cornell.edu/fit117/documents/SeoulKeynotePracticeStories.pdf

Forester J. (2009). Dealing with differences: Dramas of mediating public disputes. Oxford University Press.

Gherardi S. (2001). «Il pensiero pratico. Un'etnografia dell'apprendimento». Rassegna Italiana di Sociologia 2:231-256.

Kleinhans R. (2017). «False promises of co-production in neighbourhood regeneration: the case of Dutch community enterprises». Public Management Review DOI:10.1080/14719037.2017.1287941

Lanzara G. F. (1993). Capacità negativa: Competenza progettuale e modelli di intervento nelle organizzazioni. Bologna: Il Mulino.

Lanzara G. F. (1997). «Perché è difficile costruire le istituzioni». Italian Political Science review/Rivista Italiana di Scienza Politica 27(1): 3–48.

Mitlin D. (2008). «With and beyond the state – Co-production as a route to political influence, power and transformation for grassroots organizations». Environment and Urbanization 20(2): 339–360. DOI:10.1177/0956247808096117

Monardo B., Massari M. (2021). «Emerging Interpretation Models of Social and Institutional Innovation in the City. The Role of ‘Intermediate Places’ Between the USA and Italy». Smart and Sustainable Planning for Cities and Regions, 399-410. 10.1007/978-3-030-57332-4_28

Mouffe C. (2005). On the political, New York: Routledge.

Osborne S. P., Radnor Z., & Strokosch K. (2016). «Co-Production and the Co-Creation of Value in Public Services: A suitable case for treatment?». Public Management Review, 18(5): 639–653. DOI:10.1080/14719037.2015.1111927

Ostrom E. (1990). Governing the commons: The evolution of institutions for collective action, Cambridge University Press

Pallett H., Chilvers J. (2013). «A Decade of Learning about Publics, Participation, and Climate Change: Institutionalising Reflexivity?». Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 45(5): 1162-1183. DOI: 10.1068/a45252

Pavone V., Ferrigno M. (2024). «Il peso di alcuni nei processi di tutti: riflessione a partire da due esperienze di pianificazione co-produttiva in Sicilia Orientale». In: Tedesco C., Marchigiani E. (a cura di) Partecipazione, inclusione e gestione dei conflitti nei processi di governo del territorio Atti della XXV Conferenza Nazionale SIU Transizioni, giustizia spaziale e progetto di territorio Cagliari, 15-16 giugno 2023, Roma-Milano: Planum Publisher e Società Italiana degli Urbanisti.

Quaglia A., Guimarães Pereira A. (2024) «Spazi di dialogo e di politica. Il progetto BiodiverCities» in Pastore M. C, Lapenna A., Lazzarini L., Mahmoud I., Zanotto F. (a cura di), Città biodiverse. Politiche, piani, progetti e processi di co-creazione, Milano: Mimesis (forthcoming).

Quaglia A., Guimarães Pereira A., De Schiffart J., Ferreira J.M., Ferrigno M., Godienė G., Gómez Llabrés M., Isidoro C., Junyer Puig H., Klumpers S., Lacarac D., Manica M., Marando F., Marsh F., Mendes R., Misiune I., Mota J.C., Noguera Ferrando M., Pinho P., Princé K., Bizjak K.R., Simonič Korošak T., Tennås Holmen A., Zulian G., Gueorguieva A. (2023), BiodiverCities Atlas: A participatory guide to building urban biodiverse futures, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. DOI:10.2760/18849

Raciti A., Saija L. (2018). «From ecosystem services to Ecological Devices: The CoPED Summer School experience in the Simeto River Valley, Italy». Journal of Urban Management (2): 161-171. DOI: 10.1016/j.jum.2018.04.005.

Watson V. (2014). «Co-production and collaboration in planning – The difference». Planning Theory & Practice 15(1): 62-76. DOI: 10.1080/14649357.2013.866266

Vigar G., Cowie P., Healey P. (2020). «Innovation in planning». European Planning Studies, 28(3). DOI: DOI:10.1080/09654313.2019.1639400.

Voorberg W.H., Bekkers V.J.J.M., Tummers L.G. (2015). «A systematic review of co-creation and co-production: embarking on the social innovation journey». Public Management Review 17(9): 1333–1357. DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2014.930505

Community mapping, September 2021. Source: Presidio Partecipativo del Patto di Fiume Simeto archive

Published

2024-12-30

How to Cite

Ferrigno, M., Pavone, V., Quaglia, A. P., & Mascali, D. (2024). Between the possible and the impossible: a critical reflection on co-productive processes of a transformative nature. Tracce Urbane. Rivista Italiana Transdisciplinare Di Studi Urbani, 12(16), 402–427. https://doi.org/10.13133/2532-6562/18864