Urban Governance in the 21st Century: Emerging Models and Challenges

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite submissions to this Special Issue on "Urban Governance in the 21st Century: Emerging Models and Challenges," which seeks to explore how cities and urban institutions are adapting to changes, disruptions, or transformations across socioeconomic, demographic, political, technological, environmental, and institutional dimensions. We look forward to your contributions and to advancing the conversation on urban governance in the 21st century.

Purpose: The goal of this Special Issue is to advance scholarly understanding of how urban governance is evolving and to provide actionable insights for practitioners and policymakers. By identifying innovative governance models and assessing their capacity to foster resilience, responsiveness, and equity in urban settings, we hope to contribute to a more adaptive and effective urban governance landscape.

Focus: This Special Issue centers on the evolving nature of urban governance in the face of complex, interconnected challenges. From geopolitical conflicts, to climate adaptation, digital transformation, shifting demographics, and institutional reforms, cities are at the forefront of experimentation and innovation. We aim to highlight governance strategies that are flexible, inclusive, and grounded in evidence-based practice. By focusing on innovation, adaptability, and evidence-based practice, our Special Issue invites contributions that transcend political, idealogical, and administraive boundaries and offer insights and recommendations that can resonate with diverse audiences and inform governance practices in varied urban settings.

Relationship with the Existing Literature: This Special Issue builds on a rich body of work in urban studies, planning, public administration, public management, policy analysis, regional science, and economic development. However, it seeks to fill a critical gap by focusing on the dynamic interplay between governance innovation and systemic change. While the existing literature has explored individual aspects—such as smart cities, climate policy, or administrative reform—this Special Issue integrates these threads to offer a holistic view of urban governance under pressure. It also emphasizes the importance of resilience, responsiveness and coproduction, themes that are increasingly vital but often underexplored in governance research.

Scope: We welcome contributions that examine governance mechanisms at various spatial scales, ranging from local jurisdictions to metropolitan areas and to expansive megaregions. We further encourage interdisciplinary approaches alongside insights drawn from a wide range of global contexts. Submissions may include empirical studies, theoretical explorations, and comparative analyses. Topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Smart city initiatives How do digital technologies reshape urban governance, service delivery, and citizen engagement? What are the risks and opportunities of algorithmic decision-making in public administration?
• Participatory governance What models of civic participation are most effective in enhancing transparency and accountability? How do marginalized communities engage with urban decision-making processes and co-produce public services with other stakeholders?
• Intergovernmental coordination How do different levels of government collaborate to address cross-boundary challenges such as housing, transportation, and climate resilience? What institutional arrangements facilitate or hinder coordination?
• Urban equity What governance strategies promote equitable access to resources, services, and opportunities? How can cities address spatial and social inequalities through policy and planning?
• Sustainability and climate governance How are cities adapting to climate change through governance innovations? What role do local governments play in advancing global sustainability goals?
• Performance management and accountability What metrics and evaluation frameworks are used to assess urban governance effectiveness? How do performance systems influence policy outcomes and organizational behavior?
• Interoperable AI infrastructure What governance frameworks and technical standards are needed to support AI systems that operate seamlessly across agencies, jurisdictions, and platforms? How can cities ensure ethical, secure, and scalable deployment of AI tools while maintaining transparency and public trust?
• Health disparity and urban health equity How do governance structures influence health outcomes across different urban populations? What policies or interventions can address systemic health inequities related to race, income, geography, or access to care? How can urban governance better integrate public health priorities?
• Transportation governance and mobility systems How do cities plan, manage, and coordinate transportation infrastructure to meet evolving mobility needs? What governance models support integrated transit systems across jurisdictions? How can transportation policy address issues of accessibility, sustainability, and equity in urban mobility?
• Public transportation and access How do governance structures shape the planning, funding, and delivery of public transit systems? What strategies improve equitable access to transportation for underserved populations, including low-income communities, seniors, and people with disabilities? What role does transit-oriented development play in expanding access and opportunity?
• Affordable housing and housing policy What governance strategies effectively address housing affordability and prevent displacement in rapidly urbanizing areas? How do local governments balance development pressures with equitable access to housing? We welcome research on policy tools, zoning reforms, public–private partnerships, and community-led initiatives that expand affordable housing options and promote residential stability.
• Urban development and economic growth: How do governance strategies influence patterns of urban development and stimulate inclusive economic growth? What roles do land use planning, infrastructure investment, and innovation districts play in shaping competitive and resilient urban economies? We welcome research that explores the intersection of economic policy, spatial development, and governance mechanisms that foster sustainable prosperity. 

Dr. Shaoming Cheng
Prof. Dr. Junbo Yu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Urban Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• urban governance
• smart cities
• participatory governance
• coproduction
• intergovernmental coordination
• urban equity
• sustainability
• climate governance
• performance management
• accountability
• artificial intelligence (AI)
• interoperable infrastructure
• health disparity
• public health equity
• transportation policy
• mobility systems
• public transit access
• transit-oriented development
• affordable housing
• housing policy
• land use and zoning reform
• digital technologies
• civic engagement
• cross-jurisdictional collaboration
• data standards
• ethical AI
• urban resilience
• social determinants of health
• infrastructure planning
• equity in service delivery