BOOK REVIEW. Urban and metropolitan governance: the experience of planning institutes in Mexico

Abstract

The book Gobernanza urbana y metropolitana, by Gustavo Córdova Bojórquez and María de Lourdes Romo Aguilar, analyses the role of planning institutes in Mexico as key actors in urban governance. It highlights their evolution towards the integration of diverse actors and the construction of the necessary consensus in a context of urbanisation and sustainability. Across five chapters, the book reviews urban historical development, the theoretical foundations of governance, the evolution of the institutes, the participation of non-governmental actors, and the internal dynamics of these bodies. Its approach links local challenges with global trends, integrating guidelines from international organisations such as UN-Habitat, which enriches the understanding of the Mexican context in relation to international practices. While its originality and analytical strength stand out, the book could further examine the structural limitations of the institutes, such as lack of resources and their limited power vis-à-vis other actors. Even so, it represents a significant contribution to reflection on urban planning and its future in Mexico.

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  Book review: Gustavo Córdova Bojórquez and María de Lourdes Romo Aguilar (2022). Gobernanza urbana y metropolitana: la experiencia de los institutos de planeación en México. El Colegio de la Frontera Norte.