Growth of Madrid as a Global City - Essay Example

MADRID- The Global Back Ground Global refers to one which is interconnected with other bigger cities representing a centre or network These global cities are recognized as playing a major role in global communication marked with high access to telecommunication, information and transportation networks.2 One of these global cities is Madrid, the capital of Spain and located in geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula at latitude of 40 degrees 25 minutes North, 3 degrees 42 minutes West. It is situated at more West than London. This city is situated on the series of mountains. It is 654 meters above than sea level. Madrid is spread in an area of approximately 607 km2. According to the census done by government in 1999, the total population Madrid was around 2,905,136.3 Madrid is known as a global city because it possesses all the demanding factors for a global city such as its population and vast business from all around the World. Social Despite the exponential growth of Madrid as a global city in the world, there exist severe social issues such as social inequality, socio-economic distinction, unemployment, educational differences and gender discrimination etc. The extent of social inequities and uneven development in Madrid is depicted by high suicide rate. Men attempt and commit suicide at a rate higher than women in the city. According to a survey conducted in 1996-97, there were 135 people who committed suicide in which 105 were men and 30 were women.4 In the year 2005, the number of men and women who committed suicide rose significantly to 1,585 and 642 respectively.5 The mortality rate between men and women are different. The differences in suicide rate among men and women can also be explained with the help of distinctions in educational level and socio economic conditions. Out of all the men committing suicide in Madrid, about 63% of men belonged to lower secondary education group. This rate is slightly higher in women, which is 73% at the same educational level. 6 It shows that women at lower education level confront with suicide risk more than men. Suicide rate in men decreases due to increase in the socio-economic well being. This is not the case with women. Surveys show a high level of inequities in Madrid in education etc as compared to the other countries. 7 Mental illness is also a factor leading to suicide which is highly suffered by people having lower socio-economic position in the society. Use of drugs in Madrid is also deeply concerned with the educational level. Drug addiction among women is higher than men. There are serious social inequalities in Madrid with respect to income, education, social status etc that lead to high suicide rates. The lower socio-economic level of people who are attempting suicide reveals the fact of social inequality in the city. As men are more involved with socio-economic activities, this inequality affects the mental attitude of men more than women and thus men have a greater tendency to commit suicide. The concerned authorities have now become more active in removing the inequalities and social gaps among people to decrease the rate of suicides.8 The Madrid city has high social inequalities and issues as compared to other big cities like Paris, New York, Tokyo and London etc. The differences in social and economic status play a vital role in fostering these inequalities among people leading to social issues. People of lower economic level have significant social issues and it is the greatest factor that forces them to take a step like suicide. It is imperative for the government to minimize the existing gaps between citizens in Madrid so as to make the city compete with other global cities more effectively. Women are seriously deprived of their rights not only in Madrid but in whole Spain. In response of this inequality, a movement started in 60's to defend the rights of women called equality feminism.9 There still exists gender discrimination in Madrid with respect to the social and economic status of women. In the offices and institutions only those women are allowed to work who are young and smart. Women who are elderly and willing to do some work to remain financially sound and secure are not welcomed by employers in the city. One would hardly find an elderly women doing throughout Spain. Mohammad also propounds that "...if one goes by its iconography, this world is peopled only by young, highly attractive, able-bodied women who can get outside the home and do paid work. There is no place for the old, infirm or disabled. There is no place for the elderly woman."10 Such sort of inequality creates social traumas and insecurity among the members of a society. The government has started taking steps to counter these issues and women have started to attain equal rights as those of men. Although, women have started to get equal opportunities like the same pay and promotions as men but still lot more needs to be done with respect to the rights of elderly women in Madrid as well as Spain. There have also been serious concerns over the rising issues in Madrid provoked by gang wars due to which several youths were killed. 11 Riots are considerably wide spread in Alcoron where fights are common between the Spanish and immigrant youths. These riots have been an outcome of juvenile delinquency and unemployment issues among the youths in Madrid. 12 Such issues, engendered greatly by unemployment and lack of education, incite serious issues concerning the position of Madrid among other big global cities in the world. Economics With the start of industrialization and rapid economic growth in urban areas in the nineteenth century, unhealthful circumstances arose for the middle and lower middle social class in Madrid. Government had started its efforts in the shape of extensive planning since the year 1860.13 The Spanish government did great efforts in Madrid to make it one of the prominent metropolitan and global cities in the world. The main idea behind this was to expand the area of Madrid by taking other neighboring towns in it. To make this city a metropolitan city, the government planned to establish big roads, parks, plazas and plots for public as an initial step. In the same vein, the government also issued Castro plan for expansion in the form of report in 1960. Casto garnered complete support of royal rulers. Castro had to change his plans immediately due to pressures from property owners. Political environment in the Madrid had always been greatly influential in the economic activities of Madrid. With the sudden change in the country's political system in 1868, Castro plan was put into practice.14 Another plan was introduced by Utopian developer Arturo Soria in 1882. The Madrid Urban Development Company when failed to attract big financial investors in 1894 had also been privatized.15 In the whole nineteenth century nothing could be done except planning and proposals due to major political change during the implementation of ideas. Madrid Special Commission for the land reforms and underground uses was established in 1902 to engage into planning. In 1907 the first permanent executive came into being for this purpose. During this period many plans were approved i.e. Nunez Granes Plan but never implemented mostly due to political system. A success was achieved in 1924 with the establishment of municipalities in the city that had the responsibility with authority to develop and implement the plans. This didn't work due to lack of government interest and available revenue. In 1929 a new institution with the name of Urban Planning Bureau was formed that gave several proposals for the betterment of the city. It had also changed the scale of planning to some extent. 16 Zuazo-Jansen plan gave a proposal in 1931 that really had its affects due to clarity of purpose and positive ideas. Zuazo was also given a contract by the city as expectation came up with the end of the monarchy era and the rise of second republic. Change of political system made real differences. Oficina Tecnica Municipal was given the charge of creating new plans. Jose de Lorite Kramer, with the coordination of city, launched a general plan for expansion. The main idea was to let the city gain international recognition. This part of planning was supposed to be done only by the municipality of Madrid that had been approved by the national government but these could also not be implemented due to the political instability in 1930's. 17 A sort of reform was introduced in the city when Pedro Bidagor became the architect of the Madrid city. The person was really very particular about his work and wanted to create a modern Madrid. The mission was to establish a city in a manner that deserved to be the capital of Spain. Government showed its keen interest in developing a modern city and allocated its resources as well. The Bidagor Plan was started in 1939, completed in 1941 and published in 1942. The plan had successfully been accomplished due to complete government support. It took approximately 10 years to implement the plan. During the same period, the population of Madrid grew by 250000 during the 1948-1954. In 1958, housing ministry developed a number of housing projects in the city. The population of the Madrid city got doubled in this time and passed approximately 2 million. 18 This rise in population further enhanced the city's position as a contender of global city. Madrid came under the fastest growing cities in the world after rigorous efforts on the part of government to bring about major changes to the city structure. Madrid is expected to have highest GDP in the next few years. Madrid is considered to be performing at a better level than many other European countries. Before 1975, Spain used to be one of the poorest countries of Europe. Madrid started to develop exponentially after the year 1975 and boomed in the economy in 90's decade. Madrid scores 127 in 1986-91 and 134 in 1989-96 in exceeding national economic performance that shows its role in developing national economy as compared to other cities in Europe. The employment growth rate of Madrid in 1978-91 was around 5.9% which was a remarkable achievement. The growth of Madrid was far better than other European cities except few i.e. Munchen, Roma and Rotterdam etc.19 Spain's entry in the European community led Madrid to go further beyond in terms of economic growth. It extremely benefited through the facilities it got being a member of European community like free trade etc. This membership gave Madrid a number of opportunities like a fast rail link from Madrid to France. Madrid became one of the important cities in Europe after being the part of European community. 20 This helped Madrid to become a real global city. Tour Madrid is full of places that support its interaction with the rest of the world. Madrid Arena: Telefnica Madrid Arena is one finest place to visit. This is a place where many national and international sports and musical events took place. The decoration of this arena has been done in an intricate manner. It covers almost 6400 square meters and bears capacity of 2040 people to sit and enjoy the events. These are attractions of the big cities and connect a city to other world by arranging the cultural events and sports competitions. People from around the world gather every year to visit this place that further enhances the interactions of Madrid with other global cities of the world.21 Madrid Arena. Source: esmadrid.com22 Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is one of the oldest museums of Madrid. This museum in Madrid has the demonstration of seven century art. It has almost 50 unique and antique paintings and 1000 other work of art. During a year many local and foreign visitors visit this museum. The museum has got all varieties of art which a art loving person like would like visit.23 The museum plays a great role to portray the global image of Madrid. Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Source: esmadrid.com24 Reference Bloomberg (2005). Madrid Latin Kings' Raise Specter of Immigrant Gangs (Update1) News and Commentary Regions. November 21. Retrieved 09 April 2007 from the World Wide Web: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/newspid=10000085&sid=aTlTnfuJFT48&refer=europe Choi, J.H., Barnett, G.A. and Chon, B.S. (2006). Comparing World City Networks: A Network Analysis Of Internet Backbone And Air Transport Intercity Linkages. Global Networks, 6(1), 81-99 Edison Ford (2007). Riots in Madrid. January 29. Retrieved 09 April 2007 from the World Wide Web: http://www.efip.co.uk/index.phppage=news.art&article=45 Lever, W. F. (1999). Competitive Cities in Europe, Urban Studies, 36(5-6), 1029-1044. Lorant, V. Kunst, A. E. Huishman, M. Costa, G. and Mackenbach, J. (2005). Socio-Economic Inequalities in Suicide: A European Comparative Study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 18(7), 49-54 Madrid's Location and Climate. GoMadrid. Retrieved 09 April 2007 from the World Wide Web: http://www.gomadrid.com/practic/location-climate.html Mohammad, R. (2005). The Cinderella Complex - Narrating Spanish Women's History, The Home and Visions Of Equality: Developing New Margins. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 30(2), 248-26. Neuman, M. Gavinha, J. (2005). The Planning Dialectic of Continuity and Change: The Evolution of Metropolitan Planning in Madrid. European Planning Studies, 13(7), 985-1012 Suicide Statistics in Spain 2005. Society. National Statistics Institute. Retrieved 09 April 2007 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/axi Taylor, P.J., Walker, D.R.F., Catalano, G. and Hoyler, M. (2002). Diversity And Power In The World City Network, Cities, 19(4), 231-241 Telefnica Madrid Arena. Business Tourism. Esmadrid.com. Retrieved 09 April 2007 from the World Wide Web: http://www.esmadrid.com/wps/portal/_pagr/107/_pa.107/130/.reqid/-1pmcodnav=innefcre&pmlang=en&pmtexto1=Business&pmtexto2=Business+tourism&pmtexto3=Exhibition+sites&pmtexto4=&pmtipo=htm&pmurl=innefcre.17032005125738.html Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Museums and Exhibitions. Esmadrid.com. Retrieved 09 April 2007 from the World Wide Web: http://www.esmadrid.com/wps/portal/_pagr/107/_pa.107/130/.reqid/-1pmcodnav=inso1111&pmlang=en&pmtexto1=Culture&pmtexto2=Museums+and+Exhibitions&pmtexto3=Outstanding+museums&pmtexto4=&pmtipo=htm&pmurl=inso1111.grv_ep_090704_009.html#enl5 Read More