Description
The political and urban landscape of Amman calls for greater attention towards (re)envisioning urban discourse and (re)shaping urban policies that are inclusive to its young and diverse demographic. This paper presents the lived experiences of young people (aged 18-35) in Amman in response to the tightening grip of urban governance and issues surrounding systemic processes and tokenistic practices of participation. It presents youth participant perspectives on how urban public space can serve as a platform for democratic transformation, while taking into account the capacity for public space to hinder or contribute to building social cohesion and inclusion, as it intersects with notions of identity, belonging and active urban citizenship. Drawing from constructivist approaches, this paper argues that mobilizing youth in urban politics and activating the public space as a platform for social, cultural and political activity is instrumental for shaping inclusive planning processes and fostering democratic transformation. This argument highlights the necessity for such mechanisms to be adopted by urban governance structures, such as Greater Amman Municipality, in support of their responsibility and capacity to plan, produce and manage inclusive public space. This approach is fundamental to building channels of collaboration and trust between governance structures and city inhabitants, which are essential to the foundations of a Just City.
