Urban Management in the Digital Era: A Comparative Analysis of Traditional and Digital Governance in Smart Cities

Abstract

Digital transformation has reshaped urban management in recent decades, challenging traditional governance models and introducing new paradigms of data-driven, transparent, and participatory decision-making. This review-based analytical study examines the structural, functional, and socio-cultural differences between traditional governance and digital governance within the context of smart cities. Data were collected through extensive literature review and document analysis and were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and comparative techniques. The findings reveal that traditional governance, due to its hierarchical structure, limited transparency, and insufficient citizen participation, is unable to effectively address the complexities of contemporary urban systems. In contrast, digital governance—characterized by data-centric decision-making, networked interactions, information transparency, and active citizen engagement—significantly enhances the quality and responsiveness of urban governance. The study emphasizes that transitioning toward digital governance requires robust technological infrastructure, institutional restructuring, improved digital literacy, and the localization of global governance models to align with the cultural and social contexts of each country. Overall, the results indicate that the future of urban management depends on adopting and operationalizing the principles of digital governance, and that smart cities cannot be fully realized without transforming existing governance structures.