The classical representative-democratic system that guarantees everyone the opportunity to participate has been coming under pressure. It raises the question as to how the interests of citizens in relation to urban development issues can be represented more strongly once again in democratic negotiation and decision-making processes. The premise of this book that promotes debate is that great potential lies in the group of intermediary parties, which have multiplied and developed in recent years. Intermediaries as mediators, doers and protesters no longer represent the transfer between a systematic world and a living environment, but also network-like coproduction and new forms of regulation and control between communities, the economy and civil society. Contrary to what is usual, this book does not examine the local democracy for system shortcomings, but asks the question of how cooperations between a wide range of parties can succeed well at the interface between government and governance.

Sebastian Beck / Olaf Schnur