The role of civil society in urban governance: bottom-linked initiatives in Athens

ABSTRACT

The article contributes to contemporary urban studies debates on the role of civil society in governance, by critically considering the possibilities and limitations the bottom-linked approach entails for inclusive urban governance. Through an empirical analysis of bottom-linked initiatives developed in the city of Athens, it investigates emergent forms of cooperation and conflict between institutional and civil society actors. Further, it offers an analysis of the different dimensions the bottom-linked model may acquire, contributing insights into the entangled dynamics of self-responsibilization and self-emancipation implicated with emergent notions of citizenship and governance in Southern European cities.

KEYWORDS:

• Bottom-linked initiatives
• urban governance
• civil society
• athens

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Most field research was conducted online due to COVID-19 pandemic health emergency restrictions.

2. Abbreviations used in quotes reflect respondents’ role and gender, i.e. PU for public official, SP for policy consultant, CS for civil society, F for female, and M for male.

Additional information

Funding

This research is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund- ESF) through the Operational Programme ‘Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning’ in the context of the project ‘Reinforcement of Postdoctoral Researchers - 2nd Cycle’ (MIS-5033021), implemented by the State Scholarships Foundation (ΙΚΥ).

Notes on contributors

Athina Arampatzi

Athina Arampatzi is a State Scholarships Foundation (IKY) post-doctoral fellow. She holds a PhD degree in Social Geography (University of Leeds, 2015), an MSc in Urban Sociology (University of Amsterdam, 2010) and an MA in Architecture (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 2008). Her research focuses on urban politics, governance and social movements. Athina has published her research in international academic journals, such as Urban Studies, Journal of Urban Affairs and City.