Metropolitan Governance in Madrid: Institutionalization and Models from a Policy Perspective

Metropolitan areas are considered optimal for development in the context of globalization. In fact, most European countries have promoted institutional reforms aimed at formalizing this scale (e.g., Italy, France, etc.) or identified potential for the emergence of metropolitan arrangements (e.g., Germany). While rare in Spain, Madrid is the largest functional metropolitan area in the Iberian peninsula, and the fourth most populated in the European Union (EU). However, it is an atypical case of “deinstitutionalization” of the metropolitan area. The singularity of the case is due to: (1) the territorial scope of the region almost coincides with that of the metropolitan area; (2) the metropolitan area of Madrid integrates the territory of other regions, and (3) the region formally assumes typical metropolitan competences such as transport or territorial planning. All these elements seem to be barriers to promote the institutionalization of Madrid as a metropolitan area. Despite interest in the case, the literature on Madrid’s metropolitan area has been mostly focused on its functional scope rather than its institutional dimension. No studies exist that focus on why the metropolitan scale has not been reactivated or that explore whether there is a ‘demand or need for metropolitanization’ of the Madrid municipalities. This work will address both research questions. Based on the information collected in a database of metropolitan arrangements and in-depth interviews to politicians, experts and municipal organizations of Madrid, this chapter will present a preliminary picture of the opportunities for and barriers to the institutionalization of the ‘Madrid metropolitan area’.