A cultural political economy of transnational knowledge brands
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Ngai-Ling Sum
Abstract
This chapter adopts a “cultural political economy” (CPE) approach to examine the production of hegemony and related hegemonic struggles during the socio-spatial changes occurring in the Pearl River Delta. Drawing from the case of Hong Kong/Pearl River Delta, economic restructuring has given rise to the “hollowing out” debate. In face of this debate, two knowledge brands, the Harvard-Porter’s “competitive advantage” (1985) and MIT-Berger-Lester’s “industrial performance” models, have been stabilized as competing modes of developmentality (development governmentality) and have operated as paper-based economic panopticons to order/manage, at a distance, the organization of Hong Kong’s/Pearl River Delta’s space, policy, and, ultimately, the conduct of its population. These modes of developmentalities have met resistance from other forces in other spaces and with other interests, including from below. Nonetheless the two main power blocs are engaging in inter-bloc negotiations in the light of such resistance and are creating a hybrid strategy under the dominance of the service bloc.
Abstract
This chapter adopts a “cultural political economy” (CPE) approach to examine the production of hegemony and related hegemonic struggles during the socio-spatial changes occurring in the Pearl River Delta. Drawing from the case of Hong Kong/Pearl River Delta, economic restructuring has given rise to the “hollowing out” debate. In face of this debate, two knowledge brands, the Harvard-Porter’s “competitive advantage” (1985) and MIT-Berger-Lester’s “industrial performance” models, have been stabilized as competing modes of developmentality (development governmentality) and have operated as paper-based economic panopticons to order/manage, at a distance, the organization of Hong Kong’s/Pearl River Delta’s space, policy, and, ultimately, the conduct of its population. These modes of developmentalities have met resistance from other forces in other spaces and with other interests, including from below. Nonetheless the two main power blocs are engaging in inter-bloc negotiations in the light of such resistance and are creating a hybrid strategy under the dominance of the service bloc.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Reflections on discourse and critique in China and the West 1
- The discursive construction of the social stratification order in reforming China 19
- Institutional language as power in contemporary China 39
- A cultural political economy of transnational knowledge brands 57
- Discursive production of teaching quality assessment report 85
- Discursive construction of Chinese foreign policy 105
- The re-imagined West in Chinese television 127
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Book review
- Tian, Hailong. Discourse Studies: Categories, Perspectives and Methodologies 145
- Index 149
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Reflections on discourse and critique in China and the West 1
- The discursive construction of the social stratification order in reforming China 19
- Institutional language as power in contemporary China 39
- A cultural political economy of transnational knowledge brands 57
- Discursive production of teaching quality assessment report 85
- Discursive construction of Chinese foreign policy 105
- The re-imagined West in Chinese television 127
-
Book review
- Tian, Hailong. Discourse Studies: Categories, Perspectives and Methodologies 145
- Index 149
