L’evoluzione delle aree metropolitane in Messico e il caso di Città del Messico

Abstract

The evolution of metropolitan areas in Mexico and the case of Mexico City – It may be said that the organisation of metropolitan areas is still an unresolved issue, in almost every country, and solutions that can be considered satisfactory are rare. As it will become evident in the course of the reading of this paper, the solution adopted in Mexico is far from falling within this restricted group. It is believed, however, that intercultural or transcultural comparisons can provide new suggestions and discussion points for the European and, more specifically, the Italian debate. Considering that each individual experience is placed within a defined political-administrative institutional framework, which responds to precise historical matrices and to a "proper" structuring of the relations between the central state and local authorities, this article aims to illustrate the management of metropolitan areas in Mexico, analysing in more detail the case study of Mexico City. This choice derives from the fact that this city, in addition to being the nerve centre of the largest metropolitan area in Mexico, i.e. the Valley of Mexico, is also the country's capital. In order to understand the characteristics of this sub-state entity, it was considered appropriate to precede the analysis of the case study with an examination of the historical precedents and the evolution of Mexican federalism and a more in-depth analysis of the municipal entity.