ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the case of Barcelona, the capital of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Spain. After placing it in a brief historical and political context, it addresses the main risks and issues connected to the city, from ageing infrastructure and natural-induced risks, all the way to socio-economic inequality and unaffordability. It then discusses the employment of knowledge, technology, and funding, respectively, as strategies of political power projection. The aim is to explore the discourses and practices used to manage the city and its population under the banner of urban resilience. Special attention is paid to the unique geographical, administrative, and industrial context which has made Barcelona one of the self-declared leaders of urban resilience in Europe.
