Civic Engagement through DIY Urbanism and Collective Networked Action

In this paper, we examine do-it-yourself (DIY) urbanism through place-based and technology initiatives that support collective networked action to foster civic engagement in neighborhood contexts. The goal is to engage informal and ad-hoc networks of individual and collective actors in productively addressing critical conditions within their urban localities. Based on participatory research and co-design with residents and urban activist groups, Delai Sam and Partizaning, in districts of Moscow, Russia, we devised a series of interventions using a network of mailboxes, prototype online collaboration platforms (SynchroniCITY and MicroAct) and community-based workshops to engage participants in revealing issues, designing solutions and coordinating urban actions. Through these experiences, we consider the challenges of DIY urbanism as an inclusive, sustained and meaningful form of cooperative engagement and urban activism.