Urban Commons as Citizenship: Participation and Belonging in Bologna

Urban Commons as Citizenship: Participation and Belonging in BolognaSeason 2 Episode:21. September 15, 2026Models collaborative management of urban commons as pathway to expanded citizenship, demonstrating how co-governance strengthens democratic participation and territorial belonging.Summary: Bologna’s model shows that commons management allows migrants (excluded from formal citizenship) to practice "urban citizenship."Connection: Treats the park as a commons with management authority given to residents regardless of legal citizenship status, creating pathways to political power.Key Takeaways: • Collaborative management of urban commons fosters territorial participation• Co-management strengthens democratic participation and urban citizenship• Commons governance creates new frameworks for right to the city• Shared city management empowers diverse residents as active citizens• Urban commons enable forms of belonging beyond traditional citizenshipKeywords: Urban commons, participation, urban citizenship, Bologna, territorialism.Source: Urban commons as a concept of territorial participation and urban citizenship: Two case studies in Bologna, Italy, Charmain Levy, Marco Alberio, and Rebecca PlachesiThe Feminist Park is a pioneering intersectional feminist urban initiative that reimagines public green space through the lived experiences of women, migrants, LGBTQI+ people, and racialised communities. Rooted in care ethics, anti-racism, and queer theory, the project challenges the androcentric design of cities by co-creating inclusive, safe, and ecologically regenerative parks. By combining rigorous scientific research with grassroots feminist praxis, the Feminist Park advocates for the right to the city for all bodies,particularly those historically excluded from public space. Learn more and join the movement at www.feminist-park.org.