Citizen engagement and good governance: a focus on ‘who is governed’ in the context of the twin transition

Jacopo Resti

Chapter 15 in The Twin Digital and Green Transition, 2026, pp 258-273 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In the debate on the twin (digital and green) transition, the question of citizen engagement is frequently obscured by questions of the promise of digital technologies on the one hand and questions of sustainability on the other hand. Given that the promise driving the twin transition is that of increased benefits for society, it is important that the question of citizen engagement is included in the conversation. Global inequalities, climate shocks and the Covid-19 pandemic have accentuated challenges to citizen engagement, especially where the benefits of digitalization spread unevenly and where most people lack access to basic infrastructure, technology and skills enabling their participation. At the same time, the challenge of implementing effective policy responses to the ‘polycrisis’ has drawn attention to the importance of so-called ‘good governance’, with special regard to transparency, accountability, inclusion and participation of civil society in policymaking and service delivery. This chapter explores the links between citizen engagement and good governance, with an emphasis on developing countries. It defines these concepts and provides an overview of the empirical literature on the impact of citizen engagement on good governance at the local level, as a first step to inform research and policy reflection on more ambitious, large-scale, global avenues for citizen participation in policymaking.

Keywords: Citizen engagement; Governance; Twin transition; Sustainable development; SDG 16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035364275
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