Call for Thematic Dossier
Thematic Issue 2: Smart Cities in Latin America: Between Imported Models and Situated Perspectives
The concept of smart cities has become one of the dominant paradigms in contemporary urban planning and governance, grounded in the use of digital technologies, information systems, and data-driven strategies. However, its diffusion has largely relied on models developed in the Global North, often transferred to other contexts without critical adaptation.
In Latin America, where urbanization has been shaped by inequality, informality, socio-spatial segregation, and infrastructural limitations, the adoption of such models raises important concerns. The emphasis on efficiency, technological innovation, and automated management may obscure the social, political, and territorial dynamics that define cities in the region.
Moreover, technological solutions are often concentrated in more developed and connected areas, reinforcing existing urban inequalities. The expansion of digital platforms and monitoring systems also raises questions regarding data governance, public autonomy, and new forms of surveillance and control in urban space.
In this context, it is necessary to rethink “urban intelligence” beyond a purely technological dimension, understanding it as a situated process shaped by social practices, local forms of organization, and multiple rationalities embedded in the territory.
This thematic issue invites contributions that critically examine the smart city paradigm in Latin America, highlighting its contradictions, limits, and possibilities.
Suggested topics include:
- Smart cities and socio-spatial inequalities
- Digital governance and citizen participation
- Digital infrastructure, surveillance, and urban control
- Technology and urban informality
- Data governance and sovereignty
- Sustainability and technological innovation
- Data-driven urban planning
- Local experiences and territorial intelligence practices
Important dates
- Call for papers launch: April 1, 2026
- Submission deadline: June 30, 2026
- Notification of acceptance: September 15, 2026
- Expected publication: November 31, 2026
