Politicizing the polycentric urban region: bridge connection negotiations in the Pearl River Delta, China

ABSTRACT

This study extends the literature on polycentric urban regions through a situated account of the politicized nature of polycentric city-regional development. This is achieved through an analysis of the uneven development of bridge connections within the Pearl River Delta, China. By analysing the region’s polycentric development from the prism of the politics of transport connections and by viewing bridge alignment negotiations as government-led efforts to shape physical and functional polycentricity, we highlight the importance of a governance framework. This governance framework can complement large-scale quantitative analyses of polycentric urban regions.

KEYWORD:

• polycentric urban region
• regional governance
• Pearl River Delta
• China

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are grateful for the comments and suggestions made by the editor and anonymous reviewers. Research assistance from Yanhong Liao and Churn Tsang is greatly appreciated. All remaining errors are the authors' own.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Research Grant Council, University Grants Committee [grant number 17600918]; the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 42071206]; the Strategic Public Policy Research Scheme [grant number S2017.A8.007.17S]; the NSFC-JPI [grant number 7181101150]; and the Open Research Fund of Research Center for China Administrative Division, East China Normal University.