Neoliberal governance in shrinking waterfronts. A comparison between Bilbao (Spain) and Genoa (Italy)

Abstract

This work interprets the path dependency of neoliberal policy responses and planning strategies used by the Spanish and Italian port cities of Bilbao and Genoa to revitalize their declining industrial waterfronts in the Post-Fordism. Bilbao and Genoa represent two of the most relevant cases of urban shrinkage in Spain and Italy that happened to have embarked on ambitious neoliberal paths for revitalization, whose expectations were to turn them into prosperous hubs of business, cultural and touristic economies. This work specifically focuses on the most emblematic revitalizing actions carried out so far in Bilbao’s Ria riverfront (the Abandoibarra’s abandoned shipyards) and Genoa’s seafront (the Ancient Port) to discuss the path dependency of these projects in two derelict areas severely hit by urban shrinkage that nowadays are facing regeneration: Bilbao’s Zorratzaurre and Genoa’s Eastern seafront.