Search

The international image of Barcelona has come to be associated with an innovative urban model known as the "Barcelona model", which dates back to the 1980s. This model is not limited to such central aspects of urban planning as public policies and new economic strategies. Instead, some of its key features are concerned with social inclusion, urban culture and citizen participation. However, the model itself has evolved over time and has been the object of heated debates and controversy. The aim of the article is to discuss this model and some of the main praises and criticisms it raised. This is done with a view to contributing to the debate around the following challenge: how are we to achieve an adequate balance between short-term projects and long-term public and private urban planning strategies, as well as between public leadership and social consensus? The authors of the articles included in this issue of Finisterra - for which this article also serves as an introduction - have undertaken substantial research on the political, economic and social processes that drive this city and its metropolitan area. They highlight some of the complex situations that arise at various scales within the context of this model and they discuss their various consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]