Abstract
Global top-down governance models often fail to address the neglect of urban public spaces. This paper analyzes an alternative paradigm through a case study of “The Ugly Indian,” a successful citizen-led movement in Bengaluru, India. Drawing on news articles and interviews, the study examines how this bottom-up, participatory approach breaks cycles of public negligence by fostering collective ownership and stewardship. We propose a care-control convergence model, demonstrating how community-led acts of care (e.g., co-designed beautification) and implicit measures of control (e.g., vigilant ownership) synergistically drive behavioral change. By shifting the focus from state-led maintenance to community co-creation, this research offers a replicable framework that uses empathetic creativity to achieve sustainable urban transformation. The model has significant implications for urban policy and participatory governance and provides clear directions for future research.
Presenters
Padmavathi ShenoyAssistant Professor, HRM, OB and Communication, T A Pai Management Institute, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka, India
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE, SUSTAINABLE URBAN TRANSFORMATION, CITIZEN-LED INITIATIVES, COMMUNITY CO-CREATION, BEHAVIORAL
