On November 14, 2024, I had the honour of joining the panel “NIGHT(S)-Science: An Academic View on Nightlife”during the Vienna After Dark conference. Held at Sass Club and co-curated by the NIGHT(S) network, this session brought together international scholars to reflect on the growing field of night studies and its relevance for understanding contemporary urban transformations.
My intervention focused on the role of key stakeholders in nightlife governance and emphasized the importance of triangulating interests among public authorities, private sector actors, and civil society. I argued that effective and equitable night governance depends on inclusive negotiation frameworks—ones that recognize the differentiated needs of communities, workers, cultural agents, and residents in the nocturnal city.
Drawing on my research, I discussed how many of the current challenges in managing nightlife—conflicts over noise, tourism pressure, exclusionary practices, or safety concerns—can be better addressed by fostering trust and cooperation among stakeholders. Triangulation is not merely a theoretical construct; it is a pragmatic strategy to build legitimacy, sustainability, and shared responsibility across the night.
It was an honour to share this conversation with esteemed colleagues including William Straw (McGill University), Andreina Seijas (Night Tank), Tianyu Jiang (mdw Vienna), and Lis Vovka (University of Vienna), each offering unique insights into the politics, cultures, and imaginaries of the night.
Manuel Garcia-Ruiz 