The meaning of post-: Participatory urbanism in Lublin, Pilsen, and Yekaterinburg

Abstract

This article analyses civic participation in three “post-socialist” cities – Yekaterinburg, Russia; Lublin, Poland; and Pilsen, Czech Republic. The conceptual mix of nomad thought and Guattari’s concept of post-media city provides a fresh perspective to study today’s trends in contemporary cities. It helps rethink the possibilities for urban and global social development, more just and inclusive societies, and the assessment and disruption of past and newly acquired hierarchical systems. Using interviews and testimonies of urban activists, participants of the projects aimed to recover urban public spaces and reclaim “the right to the city”. The deliberate choices and examples from these three cities show similar demand for the recognition of individual voices and needs of the citizens and their inclusion in urban planning processes where horizontal organization and self-governance foster radical and longer-lasting change through temporary performative actions.