The proudly nativist tenor of modern populism rejects many of the values associated with cities and urban life: cosmopolitanism, high culture, and tolerance of difference. It seems only a small step to extend this pushback to vague concepts of modernisation, including technology and technocratic governance. The monitoring and measuring that attend smart cities initiatives would fit neatly within such narratives.
“Will smart cities become the next populist scapegoat?” Policy Forum, 17 April 2018, with Glen Kuecker.