ENJEUX CULTURELS MÉTROPOLITAINS : ENTRE INSTRUMENTALISATION ET CONTESTATION

The chapter explores the intricate relationship between culture and urban dynamics in Southern European cities, particularly in the aftermath of the 2007-2008 economic crisis. Examining the role of culture in neoliberal urban regeneration policies, it focuses on the complex interplay of heritage preservation, alternative cultural practices, and self-organized resistance. The study investigates the ambivalent use of social innovation concepts by political institutions facing recurrent crises and analyzes social movements mobilizing culture against entrepreneurial urban logics. Case studies of Catane in Sicily and Porto Fluviale in Rome highlight the tensions between the contestatory dimension of culture and the co-optation of grassroots initiatives by established powers. The narrative sheds light on the evolving urban landscape in Southern European cities over the past three decades.