Chapter 1 Situating Megaprojects in Asia's Political Economy of Urbanization

Abstract

This book offers a comprehensive analysis of how the developmental goals of Asian states are reflected in large-scale projects and how various actors both realize and challenge these goals. The rise of Asian economies has spurred the proliferation of megaprojects through large-scale resource mobilization, necessitating varying degrees of state intervention. Despite neoliberal pressures, these projects remain linked to national developmental aspirations, driven by domestic, transnational, or combined pro-growth interests, and serve multiple political purposes. The book advances the argument that megaprojects embody the dynamics of multiscalar strategic relations that determine the process and outcome of urbanization. These projects create iconic landmarks, new towns, central business districts, and infrastructure, showcasing intertwined political and economic interests. By examining contemporary megaprojects in China, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, and Turkey, the contributing authors reveal the complexity of urbanizing forces and their multiscalar nature in shaping the built environment and shed light on the intricate interplay of state strategies, economic needs, and sociopolitical forces that influence urban landscapes. This interdisciplinary work provides a nuanced understanding of the political economy underpinning Asian urbanization and contributes to ongoing debates on urban development, state–society relations, and the production of space in the context of globalization.