Cross examination of smart urbanism and Southern urbanism: A systematic literature review in search of ‘Southern smart urbanism’

This paper systematically reviews the literature on smart urbanism and Southern urbanism to conceptualise smart cities in the Global South. Through a two-stage analysis, the paper highlights the gaps in theorising Southern smart urbanism around three areas – visioning, development, and planning; infrastructure and services; and social and community. Findings argue for the articulation of Southern smart urbanism informed by the Southern urban critique via (i) progressing the bottom-up right-based rather than top-down normative visioning, development, and planning; (ii) leapfrogging rather than retrofitting infrastructure and services; and (iii) emphasising collective society and community rather than the individual smart citizen. •Uncovers the gaps between smart urbanism and Southern urbanism literature and conceptualises ‘Southern smart urbanism’.•Progresses bottom-up right-based rather than top-down normative visioning, development and planning.•Leapfrogs rather than retrofitting infrastructure and services.•Emphasises collective society and community rather than the individual smart citizen.