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Urban governance and the politics of robotisation

Bardin A.L.,

Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, andreybardin@imemo.ru

elibrary_id: 684500 | ORCID: 0000-0001-9526-9763 |

Article received: 2026.04.04 09:26. Accepted: 2026.05.20 09:27


DOI: 10.17976/jpps/2026.04.07
EDN: DWXEOC

Rubric: Laboratory

For citation:

Bardin A.L. Urban governance and the politics of robotisation. – Polis. Political Studies. 2026. No. 4. https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2026.04.07. EDN: DWXEOC (In Russ.)

Abstract

The article aims to develop the principles of a responsible urban robotics policy, understood as the deployment of service robots in urban space in accordance with the concepts of responsible innovation and collaborative urban governance. Based on a critical review of interdisciplinary research on human–robot–environment interaction, the study identifies the key factors for the successful implementation of urban robotics projects, as well as major political and governance challenges. These include the gap between the pace of technological change and the development of regulatory frameworks, fragmented regulation, the digital divide, and the limited scope of public participation mechanisms. The article argues that the robotisation of urban space can be regarded as a legitimate public policy only if mechanisms of participation, transparency, and accountability are institutionalised, ensuring a balance between the promotion of innovation and the consideration of the interests of urban communities. In this regard, a fundamental principle of responsible robotics policy is the need to maintain a balance between technological innovation and public legitimacy. The key outcome of the study is the development of a socio-technical governance model for urban robotics, integrating institutional, infrastructural, and social components of urban development policy.

Keywords

urban governance, development policy, sociotechnical transformation, urban robotics, service robots, public spaces, human–robot interaction, robot–city interaction.

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