A Critical Discussion on the Use of the Notion of Conviviality for Digital Cities

Conviviality is usually considered a positive concept however, as it becomes an instrument at the service of power relations, a darker side emerges. In this survey paper we raise the question: Which definition of conviviality can be used and operationalized for digital cities? We propose a two-fold definition of conviviality as (1) a condition for social interactions and (2) an instrument for the internal regulation of social systems. Furthermore, for digital cities, we propose to use conviviality as a mechanism to reinforce social cohesion and a tool to reduce mis-coordination between individuals, groups and institutions.