The power of associativism in development planning and management. Case studies and experiences of municipalities in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires

Abstract

Since the 1990s, Argentina has witnessed significant transformations in the relationship between the State and society, prompting a reevaluation of the roles and capacities of local governments to address large-scale issues extending beyond territorial boundaries due to urban expansion. This "de facto" redefinition of government roles occurs within a context of political and administrative fragmentation, demanding an expansion of agendas to include topics such as local development, territorial planning, environmental conservation, and innovation policies, among others, in new formats and in a global context. Consequently, inter-municipal cooperation has emerged as a response to manage newly delegated competencies, employing associative experiences to address challenges in urban management and conurbation. The main objective of this article is to recapitulate and analyze the primary associative experiences of inter-municipalism in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, from a planning perspective. Methodologically, the study utilizes primary sources, including semi-structured interviews with academic specialists and municipal officials engaged in these institutional arrangements, alongside an analysis of secondary sources and documentary evidence. The findings highlight the ongoing discussions, potentialities, and weaknesses to present a comprehensive overview of the current situation.