Urban Justice and Urban Practice: Opportunities and Challenges. Madrid as a Reference

Philosophical and political theories about the city usually do not consider how to implement them in the complex legal-administrative reality. The gap between the theory of urban justice and its practical application is evident in the lack of concrete proposals for urban design and management. Despite the growing interest in urban justice in the urban discourse, urban policies often do not reflect these ideals. In this sense, Madrid is an example of the mismatch between theory, policy discourse and urban planning practice. Efforts to address urban justice have been limited and focused on economic and service aspects. This chapter argues that addressing structural urban inequality from a normative perspective of justice and the capabilities approach requires a collective and ethical commitment on the part of institutions and citizens, forcing far-reaching political and disciplinary changes in the way cities are planned and managed.