Smart city trajectories and urban contexts: A comparative analysis of Dublin, Barcelona, and Lisbon

Abstract

The global diffusion of smart cities is often accompanied by narratives of technological neutrality and policy transferability. However, critical urban scholarship has shown that smart city initiatives are deeply embedded in specific geographical, socio-economic and institutional contexts. This article advances this perspective through a comparative analysis of Dublin, Barcelona and Lisbon, examining how contextual dimensions influence the governance and evolution of smart city policies and projects. Drawing on the literature on smart cities and comparative urban policy, the article conceptualises context as an explanatory dimension. It develops an analytical framework structured around two interconnected dimensions: the contextual conditions of urban smart and digital transformation and the trajectories of smart city policies and projects. Despite structural similarities as second-tier European metropolitan areas, the three cities display distinct, deeply context-embedded configurations. Dublin reflects a market-oriented and experimental approach, shaped by institutional fragmentation and a strong corporate ecosystem. Barcelona articulates a technopolitical orientation grounded in digital sovereignty and public leadership. Lisbon occupies an intermediate position, combining managerial administrative modernisation with entrepreneurial partnerships. This comparison shows that smart city policies and trajectories are strongly influenced by geographical, institutional and political-economical contexts.