Enhancing Collaborative Governance to Build Active Citizenship through Social Inclusion in Historical Neighborhood Regeneration: A Dynamic Performance Governance Approach.

Active citizenship and collaborative governance can be supported to enhance urban regeneration and social inclusion through Dynamic Performance Governance (DPG). The problem of urban decay and urban decline is identified as the main problem that continues to affect cities and urban areas. The study focuses on the urban regeneration experience of the historic urban neighborhood of Ballaro which is located in the historic city of Palermo. Urban regeneration is essential for transforming urban neighborhoods which are at risk of decline and blight. However, the lack of a social aspect such as social inclusion through active citizenship was identified to affect the sustainability of urban regeneration policies. This study therefore illustrates how social inclusion as a social aspect of urban regeneration can be attained through active citizenship. It also illustrates how active citizenship can be supported by collaborative governance so as to generate community outcomes. The main goal of the study is to demonstrate how DPG can be applied by decision makers to design and implement sustainable urban regeneration policies. In this regard, urban regeneration was depicted as an intervention within an interconnected system, rather than a sum of single interventions. The study therefore identifies social inclusion as a key variable which can be promoted through active citizenship and collaborative governance so as to ensure sustainable urban regeneration. The following objectives were studied: (1) To identify factors which influence the growth and decline of cities and urban neighborhoods. (2) To illustrate how active citizenship can be generated so as to foster collaborative governance. (3) To determine how stakeholder collaboration can be used to generate sustainable outcomes. (4) To demonstrate how DPG can be applied in local areas strategic planning to support sustainable outcomes. Findings from the study indicate that factors associated with urban decline include the presence of social ‘wicked’ problems and dynamic complexity. The factors that support urban growth include, the balanced scorecard for strategic planning, social inclusion, system dynamics, and implementation of urban regeneration policies. Active citizenship was found to sustain collaborative governance. Collaborative governance across stakeholder groups was found to be essential in fostering sustainable outcomes. The study illustrates the role of DPG in decision making and strategic planning. In addition, DPG was used as a methodology in the study. The study recommends a theoretical and practical integration of Dynamic Performance Management and Governance in urban settings which will enrich this field of study, and improve the way decision makers approach urban regeneration.