https://doi.org/10.66428/ijppv16i02a001

Somayeh Ahani *, Mahdie Zahiri

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Somayeh Ahani *
Assistant Professor, University of Tehran – corresponding author: somaye.ahani@ut.ac.ir

Mahdie Zahiri
Master of Regional Planning, University of Tehran

Keywords: Digital Participation, Artificial Intelligence, Participatory Governance, Digital Divide, Ecosystemic Framework, Smart Cities

Abstract: This study examines the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based digital participation platforms in strengthening participatory governance within smart cities of developing countries. Moving beyond conventional technocentric perspectives, this research reconceptualizes the participation gap by highlighting the critical transition from “Digital Divide 1.0” (focused on basic access and infrastructure) to “Digital Divide 2.0” (centered on algorithmic equity, data justice, and meaningful engagement). Employing a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis, the analysis identifies four interdependent themes: (1) Gateways to the Digital Ecosystem, stressing cultural localization and digital literacy; (2) Digital Transparency for Data-Driven Governance, linked to institutional trust and algorithmic accountability; (3) Social and Economic Structural Justice, addressing institutional barriers to inclusion; and (4) Technological and Trust-Based Sustainability, focusing on resilient infrastructure and technological autonomy. As its primary conceptual innovation, the study proposes a dynamic, ecosystemic framework that maps the complex, multilayered interactions among technology, culture, and policy. The findings conclude that bridging the contemporary digital divide requires simultaneous attention to social equity, institutional trust, and structural capacity development. These theoretical and empirical insights offer policymakers in the Global South a robust roadmap for designing equitable, inclusive, and sustainable digital governance models.