Revitalising Northeast China: Rust belt politics and policy failures

Abstract

The regional economy of northeast China has been in a serious state of industrial decline for decades. Experts have reached a consensus that no meaningful, regional-level, long-term economic revitalisation has occurred despite the introduction of a revitalisation strategy in 2003. Some Chinese scholars and policymakers argue a region-specific 'mentality' - an ideological resistance to policy change motivated by nostalgia - is one important factor which obstructs the implementation of these revitalisation policies. Using analytical frameworks on the role of ideas in policymaking, this research investigates the credibility of this 'northeast anti-market economic mentality' explanation and explores the importance of other ideas and ideologies in the revitalisation policy process. Through analysing relevant documents, speeches, reports, regulations, media, Chinese language academic literature, and interviews with relevant actors in the revitalisation policy network, this research argues that while an anti-market and even anti-reform sentiment does exist in the northeast, relevant frames, public sentiments, specific paradigms, and programmatic ideas may also be impacting on the successful implementation of the northeast revitalisation strategy. Show more