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Sustainability
Volume 11
Issue 20
10.3390/su11205781
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Article

The Transformative Potential of Active Citizenship: Understanding Changes in Local Governance Practices

by
Thomas J.M. Mattijssen
1,*,
Arjen A.E. Buijs
2,3,
Birgit H.M. Elands
2,
Bas J.M. Arts
2,4,
Rosalie I. van Dam
3 and
Josine L.M. Donders
3
1
Wageningen Economic Research, Wageningen University Research, Prinses Beatrixlaan 582, 2595 BM Den Haag, The Netherlands
2
Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group, Wageningen University Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3-3 A, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
3
Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3-3 A, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
4
PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, P.O. Box 30314, 2500 GH The Hague, The Netherlands
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2019, 11(20), 5781; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205781
Submission received: 14 April 2019 / Revised: 12 August 2019 / Accepted: 12 October 2019 / Published: 18 October 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Green Spaces, Urban Forestry, Health and Wellbeing, Planning and Governance)
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Abstract

This paper focuses on understanding the transformative potential of active citizenship in green space governance. Through an in-depth case study, we show how citizens promoted the redevelopment of a brownfield into a green space, but eventually also contributed towards a broader co-creative shift in local governance. In this process, we highlight how a shift in citizens’ activities from contestation towards collaboration led to the uptake of citizen-driven discourses and activities in spatial planning. The social connectivity between governance practices is of key importance in this transformation—successful governance practices that involve active citizens can inspire others. Even so, transformation is often a slow and path-dependent process which also depends on an enabling policy environment. Cooperating with authorities provides citizens with power, but also requires alignment with official rules. Creating and maintaining effective partnerships will remain a challenge for citizens and policymakers that strive for societal transformations.
Keywords: active citizenship; citizens; transformation; co-governance; re-naturing cities; practice theory; policy arrangement approach; urban socio-ecological systems; green spaces active citizenship; citizens; transformation; co-governance; re-naturing cities; practice theory; policy arrangement approach; urban socio-ecological systems; green spaces

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MDPI and ACS Style

Mattijssen, T.J.M.; Buijs, A.A.E.; Elands, B.H.M.; Arts, B.J.M.; van Dam, R.I.; Donders, J.L.M. The Transformative Potential of Active Citizenship: Understanding Changes in Local Governance Practices. Sustainability 2019, 11, 5781. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205781

AMA Style

Mattijssen TJM, Buijs AAE, Elands BHM, Arts BJM, van Dam RI, Donders JLM. The Transformative Potential of Active Citizenship: Understanding Changes in Local Governance Practices. Sustainability. 2019; 11(20):5781. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205781

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mattijssen, Thomas J.M., Arjen A.E. Buijs, Birgit H.M. Elands, Bas J.M. Arts, Rosalie I. van Dam, and Josine L.M. Donders. 2019. "The Transformative Potential of Active Citizenship: Understanding Changes in Local Governance Practices" Sustainability 11, no. 20: 5781. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205781

APA Style

Mattijssen, T. J. M., Buijs, A. A. E., Elands, B. H. M., Arts, B. J. M., van Dam, R. I., & Donders, J. L. M. (2019). The Transformative Potential of Active Citizenship: Understanding Changes in Local Governance Practices. Sustainability, 11(20), 5781. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205781

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