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Competing Hegemonic Projects within China's Variegated Capitalism: 'Liberal' Guangdong vs. 'Statist' Chongqing

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  • Andreas Mulvad

Abstract

This article investigates the variegated model of capitalism emerging in China through a comparative analysis of two contrasting local government approaches developed in Chongqing and Guangdong. From 2007 to 2012, elite politicians and intellectuals articulated the Chongqing and Guangdong models as contradictory visions for China. Drawing on a three-pronged conceptual framework developed by Bob Jessop, the article de- and reconstructs this dichotomy which has been embraced by some Western scholars. It is argued, first, that the two models involve complimentary accumulation strategies: as Guangdong moves up global value chains, Chongqing takes over many of its low-wage jobs in manufacturing sectors. Second, however, the two models do entail contrasting state projects. Guangdong's local government opened up more space for civil society organisations than normally allowed, whereas Chongqing's administrators reinforced China's state-led development path. Finally, it is highlighted how this difference between state projects is reflected in two antagonistic hegemonic visions for China's national development, illustrated by the populism of former Chongqing Party Chief Bo Xilai vs. the pro-business stance of his Guangdong counterpart Wang Yang. Future studies should expand upon the key theoretical insight of the paper: that the emergent variegated capitalism approach to political-economic analysis needs a stronger ideational component.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Mulvad, 2015. "Competing Hegemonic Projects within China's Variegated Capitalism: 'Liberal' Guangdong vs. 'Statist' Chongqing," New Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(2), pages 199-227, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:cnpexx:v:20:y:2015:i:2:p:199-227
    DOI: 10.1080/13563467.2014.914160
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    Cited by:

    1. Lu Zhang & Tao Yang, 2022. "Worker Activism and Enterprise Union Reform in China: A Case Study of Grassroots Union Agency in the Auto Parts Industry," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 53(2), pages 396-423, March.
    2. Tugendhat, Henry & Alemu, Dawit, 2016. "Chinese Agricultural Training Courses for African Officials: Between Power and Partnerships," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 71-81.
    3. Miles Kenney-Lazar & SiuSue Mark, 2021. "Variegated transitions: Emerging forms of land and resource capitalism in Laos and Myanmar," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 53(2), pages 296-314, March.
    4. Alex Y Lo & Kang Chen & Anna Ka-yin Lee & Lindsay Qianqing Mai, 2020. "The neoliberal policy experimentation on carbon emission trading in China," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 38(1), pages 153-173, February.
    5. Lo, Alex Y. & Chen, Kang, 2020. "Business participation in the development of a Chinese emission trading scheme," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    6. Scoones, Ian & Amanor, Kojo & Favareto, Arilson & Qi, Gubo, 2016. "A New Politics of Development Cooperation? Chinese and Brazilian Engagements in African Agriculture," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 1-12.

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