ABSTRACT
European cities have been considered as historically characterized by an “urban model” that is strongly resistant to neoliberalism. Radical geographers have interpreted the trends as a consequence of a strong neoliberal turn whereby the socio-spatial structure of cities has been shaped and re-organized in order to re-establish the conditions for capital accumulation and to restore the power of economic elites. Privatization, deregulation and flexibilization are all parts of the political program reshaping both urban society and urban policies. Neoliberalism has strongly promoted policies aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of cities, shifting from demand-side support for workforce reproduction to supply-side promotion of capital investment. Public policy aimed at improving attractiveness has also focused on “soft factors” related to the quality of urban life. In the cities where immigrants have formed a stable component for 50 years, there has been a persisting situation of disadvantage and discrimination in the labour market.
