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Sound of democracy : Towards the democratisation of standards for soundscapes​

Kopljar, Sandra LU orcid ; Dodds, Philip LU orcid ; Grimshaw-Aagaard, Mark LU ; Groth, Sanne Krogh LU orcid ; Gustafsson, Clara LU ; Koldkjær Højlund, Marie LU ; Mukhtar-Landgren, Dalia LU ; Mattisson, Kristoffer LU orcid and Ronchi, Enrico LU orcid (2026) In Seismograf
Abstract
With this audio paper, our aim is to explore the connection between sound and democracy. Recognizing the multifaceted nature of this field, we approach it through the notion of care and an empirical analysis of the democratic implications of trying to regulate sound in public spaces. We examine ISO standards as one example of the many attempts to control sound in both public and private spaces. Standards are used to categorize, govern, and control. They are also tools to assess and characterise. As policy tools, they raise democratic questions relating to who developed them and when and how they are used. Using the example of a shopping mall, we explore the democratic values reflected in the standards through an inter-disciplinary... (More)
With this audio paper, our aim is to explore the connection between sound and democracy. Recognizing the multifaceted nature of this field, we approach it through the notion of care and an empirical analysis of the democratic implications of trying to regulate sound in public spaces. We examine ISO standards as one example of the many attempts to control sound in both public and private spaces. Standards are used to categorize, govern, and control. They are also tools to assess and characterise. As policy tools, they raise democratic questions relating to who developed them and when and how they are used. Using the example of a shopping mall, we explore the democratic values reflected in the standards through an inter-disciplinary perspective. We move from discussing the process of developing the soundscape standards to applying them in a real-world setting, ultimately exploring the consequences of such standards from the perspective of democratic values. In doing so, we address the question of sonic citizenship and how public space is enacted, negotiated, and experienced through sound. The audio paper is a result of weekly exploratory processes and discussions during the authors’ nine-month affiliation at the Pufendorf IAS (Institute for Advanced Studies), Lund University. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
in press
subject
keywords
ISO, Democracy, soundscape, sound regulation, public space, audio paper, sound
in
Seismograf
ISSN
2245-4705
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c7957504-b602-4e5f-bf99-ffc5206ce22c
date added to LUP
2026-04-15 16:26:53
date last changed
2026-04-27 09:56:06
@article{c7957504-b602-4e5f-bf99-ffc5206ce22c,
  abstract     = {{With this audio paper, our aim is to explore the connection between sound and democracy. Recognizing the multifaceted nature of this field, we approach it through the notion of care and an empirical analysis of the democratic implications of trying to regulate sound in public spaces. We examine ISO standards as one example of the many attempts to control sound in both public and private spaces. Standards are used to categorize, govern, and control. They are also tools to assess and characterise. As policy tools, they raise democratic questions relating to who developed them and when and how they are used. Using the example of a shopping mall, we explore the democratic values reflected in the standards through an inter-disciplinary perspective. We move from discussing the process of developing the soundscape standards to applying them in a real-world setting, ultimately exploring the consequences of such standards from the perspective of democratic values. In doing so, we address the question of sonic citizenship and how public space is enacted, negotiated, and experienced through sound. The audio paper is a result of weekly exploratory processes and discussions during the authors’ nine-month affiliation at the Pufendorf IAS (Institute for Advanced Studies), Lund University.}},
  author       = {{Kopljar, Sandra and Dodds, Philip and Grimshaw-Aagaard, Mark and Groth, Sanne Krogh and Gustafsson, Clara and Koldkjær Højlund, Marie and Mukhtar-Landgren, Dalia and Mattisson, Kristoffer and Ronchi, Enrico}},
  issn         = {{2245-4705}},
  keywords     = {{ISO; Democracy; soundscape; sound regulation; public space; audio paper; sound}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  series       = {{Seismograf}},
  title        = {{Sound of democracy : Towards the democratisation of standards for soundscapes​}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}