Action research in the city Developing collaborative governance arrangements for the urban commons

In the context of dominant market logics and systemic democratic shortcomings, our research began with the question of how to engage a more inclusive group of stakeholders in order to collaboratively tackle an array of urban issues. ‘Making the city together’ resonates with the concept of collaborative governance. This suggests that, in order to better solve complex policy problems, a variety of stakeholders should engage in a process of collective decision-making. More horizontal and equal relationships can then foster more consensus-oriented and deliberative ways of policy making (Ansell & Gash, 2008; K. Emerson, Nabatchi & Balogh, 2012; Healey, 1998, 2010). Our action research method aims to develop and improve collaborative governance arrangements and applies the same concept of horizontal and equal relationships to efforts directed at involving stakeholders to jointly develop solutions to challenges in urban consumption spaces.