This paper examines the case of Madrid with examples of mobilisation and transformative actions in public spaces of the city. It discusses how virtualisation of networks and spaces through ICTs (information and communication technologies) has contributed to new patterns of mobilisation and social networks among participants and supporters. Following sections will give an account of the transformation of political action in the real and virtual public space of Madrid and on the evolution of Spanish urban social movements in relation to these issues, and the role of new urban activists in the governance patterns of the neoliberal city in crises.
In this article we seek to analyse and compare the models of regeneration of the city centres of Barcelona and Madrid in the light of the transformation of urban governance in Spain. New ways of network governance are emerging in European cities and Madrid and Barcelona are no exception. Urban policies are evolving towards the creation of more integrated strategies for regeneration that involve not only multiple public stakeholders, but also private actors including social and community organizations. Despite both cities showing some common trends, the analysis reveals significant differences between the two cities, both in terms of the composition and the dynamics of the governance networks, and the priorities and strategies for regeneration. The article concludes by discussing the possible explanatory factors for such differences and their political implications.
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