Strategic Analysis of New Approaches to Governance in Metropolitan Areas in Europe: the Case of Barcelona and London

"Metropolitan Governance regions" is the mechanism of creating flexible types of efficient institutional – organizational arrangements within metropolitan regions with the aim of goal-oriented collaboration among different actors, including public authorities, governments metropolitan, private and civil societies. Based on the above conceptual framework, this article aims to represent strategies in some regions in the twenty-first century. In Europe, two metropolitan regions of "Barcelona" and "London" was chosen with a descriptive analytical and comparative perspective, to provide answers to the following two fundamental questions. First, what are the concept and statement discourse of "Metropolitan Governance regions"? And what are the structures and strategies required for the abovementioned metropolitan areas (London & Barcelona) to take benefit from the waves of globalization? This article while explaining the background and structure of the governance of Metropolitan regions indicates that the coalition of different actors at different scales in a metropolitan area (despite political differences, such as Barcelona) and strengthening the political leadership of metropolitan area through the design of an efficient governance system are necessary. In that context, spatial and economic development strategies in the metropolitan area which are ratified by the direct vote of people (London Experience), can be a way out of the contemporary challenges facing metropolitan areas. On the other hand, the findings of this study indicate that, first, an important aspect of metropolitan areas due to its inherent complexity, is a kind of "multi-role task". To overcome challenges facing metropolitan governance, adopting policies and approaches to improve horizontal and vertical integration among regional, national and international actors in the new age is inevitable. Secondly, despite the "globalization of everything", governments and states have an important role in guiding, strengthening and facilitating the dynamics of governance metropolitan areas.