The territorialization of globalization

Processes of urban transformation in the district of Tetuán (Madrid)

Abstract

The consolidation of Madrid as a global city within the international hierarchy has brought about a series of changes in the urban, social, economic, and political fabric of the city, and consequently, its neighbourhoods. This Master’s Thesis aims to analyze the current urban transformation of the Tetuán District (Madrid) considering global urban dynamics characteristic of the globalization era. The research examines how global processes such as financialization, the rise of platform economies, and changes in urban governance models are materializing in Tetuán and whether the district’s recent transformations reflect these dynamics. In other words, the hypothesis posits that Madrid’s position as a global city also has a local impact on districts like Tetuán, where these dynamics translate into concrete urban changes. To address this, the study employs a qualitative methodology supported by a structured analytical framework. The research combines direct observation, urban explorations, press analysis, as well as interviews and focus groups with district residents. The results highlight a clear territorialization of globalization in Tetuán, evident in the emergence of new residential models such as coliving spaces, the modernization of the housing stock, the conversion of commercial premises into residences, and the restructuring of the industrial and commercial fabric. Furthermore, the study reveals a deepening of socio-spatial inequalities and the emergence of urban resistance movements seeking to counteract these effects.

This thesis provides a comprehensive perspective on the economic and social effects of globalization in a local context, as an opportunitie for future research that further explore the interaction between urban transformations and public policies in other strategic neighbourhoods of Madrid and other global cities.