Transnational Regionalization and the Rescaling of the Chinese State

Abstract

Transnational regionalization has become a popular development policy among East Asian countries since the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Expanding upon Brenner's theory of state rescaling, this paper focuses on China's transnational regionalization projects and how the Chinese state rescales to implement these projects. Specifically, this paper has two objectives. First, by comparing two projects of transnational regionalization in which Yunnan participates—the Greater Mekong Subregion program and the Bangladesh—China—India—Myanmar forum—the paper critically probes the actual mechanisms (upward collaboration, downward implementation, and outward corporatism) deployed by the Chinese state to facilitate cross-border initiatives. This emphasis on the actual mechanisms thus theorizes back to Brenner's work, showing that regulatory restructuring entails complex power relations of competition and collaboration among various forces. Second, this paper examines how the Chinese state handles the territorial geopolitical relations which have emerged during the process of transnational regionalization. I seek to broaden the theoretical framework of state rescaling beyond the narrow confines of domestic city-regions to international political economy.