Waterfront regeneration as a political mission: Megaprojects under state entrepreneurialism

Abstract

Waterfront regeneration is a typical tactic under neoliberal entrepreneurialism, which is criticized for capturing land value and fostering gentrification. However, the political logic underlying such a project is less understood. This research investigates the governance of waterfront regeneration based on a megaproject called One River One Creek (Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek) in Shanghai. This project aims to reconnect the riverbank and construct continuous greenways for public accessibility. We explain why the project was initiated and how it is implemented. First, the changing ethos of the national state directs the new wave of waterfront regeneration. Under the central initiative of building the “People’s City,” a continuous pathway along the riverside becomes a flagship project demonstrating the state’s commitment. Second, lower-level state actors are pressured to conduct waterfront regeneration as a political task for implementation. The state mobilizes the market and instrumentalizes public participation to achieve its goal rather than through public-private partnerships. While the state’s priority has shifted from focusing on economic growth to people-oriented development, urban governance still reflects state entrepreneurialism in that the state retains a central role in decision-making and project implementation in megaprojects.