Reconsidering Neoliberal Urban Planning In Times Of Crisis
Urban Regeneration Policy In A “Dense” Space In Lisbon
Overview
The article furthers recent debates about the concept of neoliberalism and its use as an explanatory concept, through the analysis of urban planning and regeneration policy in Lisbon in times of crisis and austerity. Suggesting a look at neoliberalization from a three-fold perspective – the project, governmentalities and policy-making – the article debates to what degree current responses to the European economic crisis, i.e. austerity policy, can be understood as a renewed and coherent deployment of neoliberal stances. The article presents implications for urban planning in Lisbon and thus suggests an exploration of the negotiations and clashes of hegemonic neoliberal governmentalities and policies with the local social and spatial fabric. A “deviant” case, Mouraria neighborhood, is chosen for this exploration, a “dense” space in which the outputs of policies are different from what was expected. In conclusion, it is suggested that neoliberalization (in times of crisis) shall be understood as a coherent project and a set of ambiguous governmentalities, which bring about contradictory policy-making at the local level. Keywords
