Socialism, uneven development planning and the territorial expression of the new projectment economy in China

Abstract

Drawing on the concepts and categories of scientific socialism, this article seeks to examine the concrete case of China’s socio-economic development by linking political economy with its territorial dimensions. The core objective is to identify and understand the key features, specificities, and political implications of urban-regional planning in China. The argument put forth is that a process of maturation of socialist elements within China’s socio-economic formation is underway, driven mainly by two factors: the reconfiguration of planning aimed at coordinating uneven development, and the rise and consolidation of an accumulation dynamic increasingly centered around project-based initiatives, shaping what can be termed a New Projectment Economy. The findings point to a dual pursuit: rationalizing the processes of production and circulation of wealth to lower production costs, while simultaneously constructing public goods and use values, exemplified by urban and transport projects that serve as drivers of development. This approach seeks to universalize the social benefits of a higher-quality urban environment, manifesting in new urban-regional forms.