Building Hangzhou's new city center: mega project development and entrepreneurial urban governance in China

Abstract

Politico-economic landscapes in China have experienced profound changes since the late 1970s. Local governments have transformed their role in urban governance from conventional regulator to entrepreneurial agent. Entrepreneurial urban governance defines the relationships between local government and other interest groups in the urban development process. These issues can be most clearly observed in mega urban project development. Using entrepreneurial urban governance as an analytical approach, this study examines the so-called “government led but market oriented operation” of a new city center development process in Hangzhou. The study uncovered a dominant role of local government in entrepreneurial urban governance, which featured participation by other interest groups. The study also revealed the applicability and variations when applying the concept of urban entrepreneurialism to a socialist economy in transition. Issues concerning development motivations and strategies, civil society, amphibious institution and local elitism make entrepreneurial urban governance in China unique.