ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to understand the role of planning in governing China’s urban development under ‘state entrepreneurialism.’ First, it reviews the rationale for planning in market economies, mainly with reference to the UK planning system, and explains the recent shifts toward neoliberal and post-political planning. Then, the chapter briefly reviews the history of Chinese city planning from its early practices in the semi-colonial era, planning for industrial development in the socialist planned economy, and ‘planning for growth’ in the era of economic reform and globalization. It suggests that China’s planning has witnessed a similar change toward a greater market mechanism after economic reform. However, unpacking the practices of ‘planning for growth,’ especially the planning system reform after 2018, the chapter reveals that state-centered political mandates and development goals drive planning. There has been a persistent pursuit of state centrality. Finally, the chapter reflects on the tension between capital accumulation logic and national modernization’s territorial politics.
