Collaborative governance in the urban (re)development of Hoogvliet

Abstract

Over recent decades, many Western governments, including the Dutch government, have adopted collaborative governance strategies in urban (re)development, emphasizing citizen involvement in the decision-making process. While such participatory approaches can potentially promote justice within cities, they risk several implications. This thesis critically examines how participation is utilized, organized, and perceived in the context of urban (re)development in the Rotterdam neighborhood of Hoogvliet. The guiding research question is: ‘What is the role of citizen participation in the neighborhood regeneration strategy for the area of Hoogvliet in Rotterdam, and how can participatory governance be strengthened to support community engagement?’. To answer this question, a qualitative research approach was used, including an analysis of current participatory policies and practices and semi-structured interviews with three key stakeholder groups: public actors, private actors, and the civil society. The findings indicate that citizen participation is poorly integrated into the urban (re)development process of Hoogvliet, primarily due to two factors. First, existing policies fail to effectively support citizen participation, as their flexibility leaves public and private stakeholders with insufficient guidelines for meaningful engagement. Second, there seems to be lack of trust from the civil society towards the government, which affects the incentive for citizens to engage. To enhance a collaborative planning process where citizens actively take part in the process, it is crucial to address these issues first.