Participatory Processes: Two Case Studies from Serbia

Abstract

Based on citizens’ critical stance towards government decisions, the concept of participation is increasingly emerging in urban discourse. Its role is to facilitate communication between citizens and stakeholders and enable collective decision-making at both the local and state levels. An expectation is that digital technologies will reestablish a connection between the two sides, thereby strengthening trust in the planning process. However, citizen responses differ across various cases. In the context of Novi Sad, citizen engagement appears weak, contrasting with their current dissatisfaction with city affairs. On the other hand, the citizens of Bor are content with their involvement in decisions that are not so significant. Consequently, this paper aims to explore the reasons behind the varying relationships between citizens and authorities in these distinct environments. It seeks to understand why, when given the opportunity to participate, citizen engagement dwindles in larger cities, leading to increased mistrust in institutions, while people in smaller cities recognize the importance of even small steps in collective action for the future development of their communities. In addition to examining the relationships between stakeholders and past urban development patterns in Serbia, the paper addresses the question of the public interest in the service of city development, along with the policies and reviews that offer guidelines for the successful implementation of participatory processes.