Regime Divergence and the Limits of Austere Neoliberalism
The cities of Montréal, Nantes, Dandenong and Barcelona diverge in several ways from patterns of consolidation in austere neoliberalism discussed in chapter 4. These four cities all encounter familiar challenges with economic restructuring, and all have been exposed to waves of ideology, policy and state restructuring associated with austere neoliberalism and entrepreneurial development agendas. Yet, in the post-GFC period they moved in different, if inter-related, directions. The chapter first discusses Montréal and Nantes, as two cases of established urban regimes dealing with policy failure and coming under strain from internal contradictions. The second part of the chapter explores Greater Dandenong and Barcelona, cities with very different political orientations and traditions, but where constructive regime building activities were evident, respectively at a distance from and against austere neoliberalism.