Florentino, Rui

English

UPCommons

Florentino Exploring metropolitan governance 
 
Proceedings of 7VCT, Lisbon, Portugal, 11-13 October 2011 | 687 
Exploring metropolitan governance 
Context vs practices in Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona and Paris 
Rui FLORENTINO 
PARQ – Departamento de Arquitectura e Paisagem, Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama 
Mosteiro S. Jorge de Milréu, Estrada da Conraria, 3040-714 Castelo Viegas, Coimbra, Portugal 
00351934156220, ruiflorentino@gmail.com  
Keywords: Metropolitan Governance, Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris 
This paper explores the relation between the main issues to improve a metropolitan 
governance model, regarding the institutional context and the planning practices. In 
particular, it explains the relevance and implementation of processes that respond to 
the running governance challenges in capital regions. To find arguments and justify 
some possible innovations, even if they are unique, twelve variables are qualitatively 
measured, through a comparative case study methodology, concerning the regions of 
Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona and Paris. 
In fact, the Portuguese capital does not seem to have a remarkable experience on the 
metropolitan governance, but how is it facing those challenges? What are the main 
differences in his currently governance and planning processes, when compared with 
the closer European cases? 
The research concludes that there is a tendency to balance between the variables of a 
metropolitan governance system, which does not prevent different paths to register: 
for example the Paris region has developed good initiatives in “technical processes”, 
which then require adjustments in the context, while Madrid had in recent years less 
activity, in result of his institutional stability. 
The Lisbon region stays in an “intermediate position”, with a dynamic evolution that 
is difficult to predict. But according to that argument, it’s possible to admit that his 
processes can gradually lead to small improvements in this governance system, with 
his own path, implementing actions that must respect, in particular, the geography of 
the territory. 
Acknowledgments 
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Departamento de Urbanística y Ordenación del 
Territorio de la Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura. 
Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo.  
References 
Fernández Güell, José Miguel (2004), Sostenibilidad y gobernabilidad: dos conceptos 
condenados a entenderse en el ámbito urbano, Boletín Ciudades para un Futuro más Sostenible, 
nº 31, Madrid. 



Exploring metropolitan governance: context vs practices in Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona and Paris

https://upcommons.upc.edu/bitstream/2099/15927/1/120_Exploring%20metropolitan%20governance.pdf

Exploring metropolitan governance: context vs practices in Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona and Paris

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

UPCommons