Towards a reflexive model of collaborative urban governance: exploring the Italian ‘shared administration of common goods’

Over the past decade, a remarkable and transformative movement has swept through numerous Italian municipalities via thousands of so-called ‘collaboration pacts’. This chapter aims to contribute to the discussion on reflexive governance by delving into the Italian experience of the ‘shared administration of common goods’ (Arena, 1997). Originating in 2014 with the introduction of the first Regulation of collaboration between citizens and the city for the care and regeneration of urban commons in Bologna, this pioneering approach has since been embraced by nearly 380 municipalities across Italy, resulting in the implementation of close to 7000 collaboration pacts. These local legal agreements signify an unprecedented opportunity for citizens and public administrators to collaboratively address pressing societal challenges by co-creating means and rules for collective action. The main goals include the regeneration and co-management of ‘common goods’ such as abandoned buildings, gardens, rivers, parks, and cultural heritage assets, as well as the design and implementation of ‘collaborative services’, such as establishing food redistribution networks and repurposing public schools into vibrant civic centers.