Transformation and continuity in the urban regimes of Bilbao and Barcelona: A comparative analysis using urban regime theory

This article examines transformation and continuity in the urban regimes of Bilbao and Barcelona from the outbreak of the 15-M movement to the present day, using the urban regime theory as an analytical framework. This article argues that despite the difficulties in establishing a sustained and stable urban regime over time, the municipalist cycle in Barcelona has produced an alternative regulative idea, signaling an attempt at regime change that, while not a total rupture, lays the foundations for a new urban regime. In contrast, we present the case of Bilbao where, through small arrangements, the same urban regime based on renewed business strategies is sustained and reproduced thanks to the hegemony of the ruling party. In this way, we explore the power dynamics and adaptive responses of urban regimes to the waves of neoliberal destruction and creation. By studying the different structures and strategic selectivities, the article puts forward new relevant analytical tools for comparing similar cases in different contexts. Thus, through a theoretical review, the study provides a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by urban regimes in post-industrial cities like Barcelona and Bilbao.