The Political Economy of Mega Projects in Asia

The growth of urban real estate development has been a key recent facet of the globalization of Asian economies. This book compares and analyses how the aspirations of Asian states have been reflected in the course of (re-)writing the urban landscape, and considers the role of scalar politics. The contributors argue that mega-projects embody the dynamics of the multi-scalar strategic relations that determine the process and outcome of urbanization. Bringing together a range of urbanization experiences from South Korea, Taiwan, India, Turkey, Hong Kong SAR, Mainland China and Indonesia, the book explores the role of specific political and economic interests in shaping cities, and the role of local communities, nascent advocacy groups and popular struggles in contesting the state-led mega-projects.