Hong Kong Baptist UniversityHong Kong Baptist UniversityDecember 2007December 2007

Urban China amid Globalization: Urban China amid Globalization: Spatial Restructuring in Guangzhou in Spatial Restructuring in Guangzhou in

Comparative PerspectiveComparative Perspective

Lachang LU, Guangzhou UniversityLachang LU, Guangzhou University

Linda McCARTHY, University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeLinda McCARTHY, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Theoretical/methodological issuesTheoretical/methodological issues Large-scale processes of change associated with Large-scale processes of change associated with

globalization impacting urban areas in LDCs & DCsglobalization impacting urban areas in LDCs & DCs Break from traditional monocentric spatial patterns Break from traditional monocentric spatial patterns

captured by new terms for evolving decentralized captured by new terms for evolving decentralized multicentric configurations, e.g. ‘urban realms’ in US multicentric configurations, e.g. ‘urban realms’ in US (Vance 1990), ‘polycentric urban development’ in China (Vance 1990), ‘polycentric urban development’ in China (Wu 1998)(Wu 1998)

Negative reaction to ‘convergence thesis’ (neglect for Negative reaction to ‘convergence thesis’ (neglect for importance of local in mediating global) importance of local in mediating global) →→ pendulum pendulum swinging perhaps too far in other direction swinging perhaps too far in other direction →→ focus on focus on Chinese cities as distinct/uniqueness of Chinese urban Chinese cities as distinct/uniqueness of Chinese urban processes & spatial outcomesprocesses & spatial outcomes

Argue against ‘throwing out baby w/bathwater.’ Not arguing Argue against ‘throwing out baby w/bathwater.’ Not arguing for convergence on universal or US or Los Angeles model. for convergence on universal or US or Los Angeles model. Ma & Wu (2005) critiqued Dick & Rimmer (1998): SE Asian Ma & Wu (2005) critiqued Dick & Rimmer (1998): SE Asian cities converging on W. cities based on selective elementscities converging on W. cities based on selective elements—shopping malls, gated communities, etc.—superficially —shopping malls, gated communities, etc.—superficially similar to US, while ignoring common LDC elements, e.g., similar to US, while ignoring common LDC elements, e.g., squatter settlements, large informal economysquatter settlements, large informal economy

Agree with Dick & Rimmer: paradigm emphasizing Agree with Dick & Rimmer: paradigm emphasizing uniqueness of LDC cities & disallowing similarities with uniqueness of LDC cities & disallowing similarities with DCs is problematical. Agree with Marcuse & van Kempen DCs is problematical. Agree with Marcuse & van Kempen (2000): despite diversity in spatial patterns produced by (2000): despite diversity in spatial patterns produced by globalization processes, common tendencies that form globalization processes, common tendencies that form similar patternssimilar patterns

Increasing pervasiveness of globalization processes Increasing pervasiveness of globalization processes comparative international perspective may be helpfulcomparative international perspective may be helpful

international similarities incorporated into theorizations international similarities incorporated into theorizations of urban change/better appreciation of impacts of of urban change/better appreciation of impacts of globalization; policy implications/learn from experience; globalization; policy implications/learn from experience; (Dear & Flusty 1998; Denters & Mossberger 2006; (Dear & Flusty 1998; Denters & Mossberger 2006; Keating 1998)Keating 1998)

Importance of local context in mediating global forces Importance of local context in mediating global forces finding shared problems finding shared problems ≠≠ shared capacities to address shared capacities to address

Universal Universal (country to country urban analysis) too general; (country to country urban analysis) too general; UniqueUnique (city to city analysis) allows real world (city to city analysis) allows real world comparisoncomparison

Guangzhou vs. Los Angeles: Guangzhou vs. Los Angeles: fast-growth; sprawl; large metro. pop; near top urban fast-growth; sprawl; large metro. pop; near top urban hierarchy, not capital; economic structure: balance of hierarchy, not capital; economic structure: balance of commerce & industry. commerce & industry. US: ‘the’ model of capitalist growth & policy imitationUS: ‘the’ model of capitalist growth & policy imitation

Metropolitan scale facilitates urban/policy analysis within Metropolitan scale facilitates urban/policy analysis within single politically-integrated planning environmentsingle politically-integrated planning environment

Theoretical frameworkTheoretical framework Chinese cities as a separate ‘transitional’ group?Chinese cities as a separate ‘transitional’ group?

post-1978 reforms post-1978 reforms not surprising: conceptualizations as not surprising: conceptualizations as ‘transitional.’ But problematical re. ‘convergence thesis’ & ‘transitional.’ But problematical re. ‘convergence thesis’ & all cities in constant transition (Wu 2003); all cities in constant transition (Wu 2003); prefer ‘globalizing cities’ (Marcuse & van Kempen 2000); prefer ‘globalizing cities’ (Marcuse & van Kempen 2000); globally dispersed net of megalopoles in a single integrated globally dispersed net of megalopoles in a single integrated urban system (Dear & Flusty 1998)urban system (Dear & Flusty 1998)

Global-local interplayGlobal-local interplay

External/globalExternal/global e.g. FDI, & e.g. FDI, & internal/localinternal/local e.g. domestic investment; e.g. domestic investment; local local government economic dev. despite strong control of state; government economic dev. despite strong control of state;

Operationalizing globalizationOperationalizing globalization

Political; economic; cultural; environmentalPolitical; economic; cultural; environmental

Guangzhou’s changing Guangzhou’s changing metropolitan structuremetropolitan structure

Real world example to situate discussionReal world example to situate discussion Since 1978, change from ‘single core’ Since 1978, change from ‘single core’

socialist ‘production’ citysocialist ‘production’ city

1984

1. Initial opening up: Single core1. Initial opening up: Single core w/planned leapfrog development, w/planned leapfrog development, 1978-87 1978-87 Single core: commercialSingle core: commercial 1984: Guangzhou Economic 1984: Guangzhou Economic

& Technology Dev. District & Technology Dev. District (GETDD): FDI in industry(GETDD): FDI in industry

2. Toward a Modernized 2. Toward a Modernized International Center: Dual core,International Center: Dual core, 1987-2000 1987-2000

1985: Tianhe development1985: Tianhe development 1987: new land leasing system1987: new land leasing system urban sprawlurban sprawl

3. Growing International 3. Growing International Conurbation: Multi-core network,Conurbation: Multi-core network, 2000-present 2000-present

2002: GETDD & 3 other dev. 2002: GETDD & 3 other dev. zones zones → ‘4 Zone Union’: → ‘4 Zone Union’: Guangzhou Dev. District (GDD); Guangzhou Dev. District (GDD); 2005: Luogang urban district2005: Luogang urban district

1993: Nansha Econ. & Tech. 1993: Nansha Econ. & Tech. Dev. District (NETDD); Dev. District (NETDD); 2005: Nansha urban district2005: Nansha urban district

Guangzhou University Town; Guangzhou University Town; Internat. Bio-island; Internat. Internat. Bio-island; Internat. Convention & Exhibition CenterConvention & Exhibition Center

2000: Huadu urban district2000: Huadu urban district

Urban processes & spatial Urban processes & spatial outcomes amid globalizationoutcomes amid globalization

Theoretical framework & 3-stage Guangzhou model Theoretical framework & 3-stage Guangzhou model → → distinctive features of Chinese urban processes & distinctive features of Chinese urban processes & outcomes; & any emerging similaritiesoutcomes; & any emerging similarities

Political processes & spatial restructuringPolitical processes & spatial restructuring Institutional restructuring in China & US = ‘globalization Institutional restructuring in China & US = ‘globalization

of neoliberal project’ & entrepreneurial local gov. (Peck of neoliberal project’ & entrepreneurial local gov. (Peck & Tickell 2002); & Tickell 2002); ‘roll back,’ ‘roll out’ in US vs. proactive support in China; ‘roll back,’ ‘roll out’ in US vs. proactive support in China; political fragmentation; political fragmentation; butbut national power centered on Communist Party; national power centered on Communist Party; goal & location of dev. zones in China goal & location of dev. zones in China ≠ EZs in US≠ EZs in US

Economic processes & spatial restructuringEconomic processes & spatial restructuring Domestic ‘self-raised funds’ & FDI; Domestic ‘self-raised funds’ & FDI;

decentralization from single core/selective urban renewal; decentralization from single core/selective urban renewal; Guangzhou Guangzhou University Town, etc. corresponds with 1 of Hall’s (2001) University Town, etc. corresponds with 1 of Hall’s (2001) common nodes in polycentric metropolis specializing in common nodes in polycentric metropolis specializing in education, exhibition & convention centers, etc. (but education, exhibition & convention centers, etc. (but stronger hand of higher tiers of gov.); stronger hand of higher tiers of gov.); butbut historic core retained its economic dominance (so far); historic core retained its economic dominance (so far); FDI FDI → commercial/historic core vs. industry/dev. zones; → commercial/historic core vs. industry/dev. zones; agriculture → industry & servicesagriculture → industry & services

Cultural processes & spatial restructuringCultural processes & spatial restructuring Increasing consumerism; Increasing consumerism;

growing middle class; growing middle class; economic, social, spatial/residential polarization w/luxury economic, social, spatial/residential polarization w/luxury apartments, gated W-style housing, gentrification; apartments, gated W-style housing, gentrification; rural-to-urban rural-to-urban migration; migration; but but limited limited involvement in planning by civil society (Lin 2007)involvement in planning by civil society (Lin 2007)

The environment & spatial restructuringThe environment & spatial restructuring Pollution with industrialization; Pollution with industrialization;

pollution with rising wealth/car ownership/freeways & pollution with rising wealth/car ownership/freeways & longer commutes; longer commutes; concern: pollution & environmental degradation concern: pollution & environmental degradation negatively affecting economic growth, but so far negatively affecting economic growth, but so far economic growth favored; economic growth favored; but but outside pressure from international community to outside pressure from international community to curb pollution re. global warming; curb pollution re. global warming; ‘Kuznets curve’?‘Kuznets curve’?

Theoretical & policy implicationsTheoretical & policy implications From theoretical perspective, not considering Chinese From theoretical perspective, not considering Chinese

cities as ‘transitional,’ allowed comparative differences cities as ‘transitional,’ allowed comparative differences but but alsoalso any similarities to be examined any similarities to be examined

Deliberately did not look for convergence on US model, Deliberately did not look for convergence on US model, & did not find it& did not find it

While need to be careful using W. theories for While need to be careful using W. theories for understanding Chinese cities, may be helpful to consider understanding Chinese cities, may be helpful to consider models of L.A. re. informing conceptualizations of urban models of L.A. re. informing conceptualizations of urban spatial restructuring in Chinaspatial restructuring in China

Vance (1990) ‘urban realms’ model: Vance (1990) ‘urban realms’ model: realms function semi-independently; realms function semi-independently; Guangzhou’s spatial pattern showing Guangzhou’s spatial pattern showing nascent tendency for different cores to nascent tendency for different cores to function semi-independently, esp. former function semi-independently, esp. former GDD (Luogang) & former NETDD (Nansha)?GDD (Luogang) & former NETDD (Nansha)?

Dear & Flusty (1998) Dear & Flusty (1998) model of postmodern urban structure: model of postmodern urban structure: global-local interplay & social polarization reflected in global-local interplay & social polarization reflected in Guangzhou; Guangzhou; butbut not reterritorialization of urban space with not reterritorialization of urban space with hinterland organizing center; urbanization not occurring ‘on hinterland organizing center; urbanization not occurring ‘on quasi-random field of opportunities’quasi-random field of opportunities’

From a policy perspective, some similarities (while not From a policy perspective, some similarities (while not identical) have implications, including learning from identical) have implications, including learning from experience.experience.

Politically, possibility of raising broader questions, including Politically, possibility of raising broader questions, including validity of neoliberal project’s focus on city competitiveness, validity of neoliberal project’s focus on city competitiveness, with worker exploitation; drawbacks of trend toward political with worker exploitation; drawbacks of trend toward political fragmentation, & alternatives in US e.g. competitive fragmentation, & alternatives in US e.g. competitive regionalismregionalism

Economically, new elements on Chinese urban landscape, Economically, new elements on Chinese urban landscape, e.g. sprawl, have drawbacks that policy analysts in US have e.g. sprawl, have drawbacks that policy analysts in US have been grappling with longerbeen grappling with longer

Culturally, increasing social polarization & residential Culturally, increasing social polarization & residential segregation also longer-term issues in USsegregation also longer-term issues in US

Environmentally, degradation with rapid urban development Environmentally, degradation with rapid urban development an issue since Ind. Rev.an issue since Ind. Rev.

Concluding commentsConcluding comments Further comparative analysis may be helpful in identifying Further comparative analysis may be helpful in identifying

& attempting to understand any similarities as well as & attempting to understand any similarities as well as differences in processes & outcomes amid globalization in differences in processes & outcomes amid globalization in China compared to other parts of world, including US.China compared to other parts of world, including US.

Important from a policy perspective to investigate in Important from a policy perspective to investigate in greater detail both theoretically & empirically extent to greater detail both theoretically & empirically extent to which any similarities are result of different processes, which any similarities are result of different processes, policies, contexts, & any differences are produced by policies, contexts, & any differences are produced by similar ones—both intended & unintendedsimilar ones—both intended & unintended

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments Support from China’s Natural Science Foundation Support from China’s Natural Science Foundation

(40571049/D0107) & Social Science Foundation (40571049/D0107) & Social Science Foundation (05BJL042)(05BJL042)

Wang JianJun for his research assistanceWang JianJun for his research assistance Professors Ya Ping Wang & Yeu-man Yeung for Professors Ya Ping Wang & Yeu-man Yeung for

helpful comments on earlier version of presentation helpful comments on earlier version of presentation

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