This text challenges the technocentric model of smart cities, arguing for a shift toward a civic model centered on active, empowered citizens. It critiques how dominant narratives reduce the role of individuals to data producers and passive service recipients, ignoring the collective intelligence and participation necessary for true urban resilience. Drawing on examples such as urban gardens, the article illustrates how community-based initiatives not only foster ecological awareness but also redefine the meaning of being “smart.” The author contends that urban innovation must not be limited to technological efficiency but rather should be embedded in social justice, equity, and participatory governance. By reorienting the discourse from top-down control to bottom-up agency, the concept of "smart citizens" becomes a counter-narrative to surveillance-driven urbanism, emphasizing the co-creation of public space, inclusive decision-making, and community resilience as hallmarks of truly intelligent cities.
URBS. Revista de Estudios Urbanos y Ciencias Sociales. (2016) ‘De las smart cities a los smart citizens’, URBS, 6(2).
