‘Going with the flow’ A qualitative study on citizens’ perceptions on flood prevention efforts and local participation in urban development in Turin, Italy

Abstract

This qualitative study examines how citizens perceive flood prevention efforts and their own local participation in the city Turin in northern Italy. Using semi-structured interviews and interviewing residents of Turin, this study explores how flooding in urban areas affects the citizens. Furthermore, the study will examine what affects the perceptions of the city government’s flood prevention efforts, and how citizens view their own role in local participation. Using Bo Rothstein’s theory on corruption, I argue for how systemic corruption is still an ingrained part of sustainable development in the city, and how the results from the respondents can be understood through this theoretical lens. I am also using John Jost’s system justification theory to give further understanding of the psychological behaviours of respondents through a social psychology theoretical lens. The findings show that most respondents did not feel directly affected or threatened by flooding, but they were aware of increasing flood risks related to climate change. Respondents perceived a lack of information and transparency from the city government, linking these issues to complicated bureaucracy, corruption or a normalisation of the political system. Respondents perceived an increased individualisation in flood prevention, where responsibility shifts from city government to citizens. Further findings show that local participation was viewed as important but was doubted in its ability to create change and influence political decisions. The study highlights the importance of social trust, transparency and meaningful local participation to create effective flood prevention in Turin. This paper will be written in English.