|
|
|
| MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SCANNING OF URBAN MEGA-PROJECTS UNDER THE ENVIRONMENT OF GLOBALIZATION |
| ZHANG Jing-xiang1, WANG Li-li2, LUO Zhen-dong1 |
1. Department of Urban & Regional Planning, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China;
2. Department of Geography, the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A |
|
|
|
|
Abstract Under the intensely competitive environment of globalization, urban government needs to promote urban marketing so as to acquire the capital growth, leading to the prosperity of mega-projects globally. Urban mega projects are the symbol and spatial declaration for urban government to deal with the competitive environment. The significance of them has far surpassed the use value of themselves. However, many experiences in history show that urban mega projects have produced a lot of problems in politics, economy and society while bringing about new opportunities and glory for urban development. Many cities have overspent urban financial resources and public welfare as they pursue the glorious symbolic and political effects. And therefore, they have fallen into the situation of long-term recession and difficulties in financial resources after obtaining the short-term glory. So, under the environment and context of globalization, it should be considered to scan the driving mechanism and deep influence of them from the multi-dimensional angle of view. This paper analyzes entrepreneurial transition of government governance, indicating that urban mega-projects meet the requirements for government to promote urban growth and realize governance transition, and promote the forming of urban growth coalition with government and businessmen. Besides, the paper maintains that urban mega-projects are the product & symbol of economic globalization, and the means & object in the space of politics and economy. Growth coalition that urban mega-projects depend on is weak and utilitarian. The dazzling mega-projects hide big economic risks. And urban mega-projects also aggravate social polarization and spatial differentiation. Finally, the paper believes that in the period of transition in China, construction of urban mega-projects will face bigger impulse and difficulties, and consideration should be more dispassionately made.
|
|
Received: 20 December 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009, Vol. 24 
