Spatializing the project of state rescaling in post-reform China: Emerging geography of National New Areas

Abstract

Existing theory of state rescaling makes inadequate clarification of the nature of the state in the context of Western liberal democracy vis-à-vis an authoritarian Leninist political economy such as China. Emphasis is placed upon rescaling per se and its social construction with its spatial manifestations being treated simply as a by-product or taken for granted. This paper engages with current theoretical advancements through a research that focuses on the spatiality of state rescaling in a socialist planned economy, identifies the emerging geography of the Chinese National New Areas (NNAs), and critically assesses the uneven impacts of the NNAs upon local economic growth. The establishment of the NNAs is found to be a spatial manifestation of the rescaling of power relations within an authoritarian Leninist Party-state both vertically (hierarchically) and horizontally (cross-jurisdictional administrative changes). Establishing an NNA is found to have increased the spatial inequality of the municipality where it is located. A multi-variate statistical analysis has identified an inverse relationship between the economic effects of the NNAs and the level of the regional economy, degree of openness, and complexity of administration of the NNAs. Findings of this research call for better theoretical attention toward the variegated nature and internal dynamics of the state engaged in rescaling, the diverse spatial outcomes of state rescaling, and its uneven socio-economic effects contingent upon regional conditions.