The Nexus and Temporality in the Making of City-Region in South China

This paper explores the increasing focus on borderland and city-region, areas where spatial mobility, economic development, and power dynamics are in constant flux. Through policy and discourse analyses covering the period from 1980 to 2020, we trace processes that demonstrate how inter-city competition and local contingencies wield more influence in reshaping the development of the Greater Bay Area. Our analysis of policy documents uncovers the evolving political and economic gravity and priorities at the central, regional, and local levels. Additionally, our discourse analysis identifies a historical juncture marked by not only shifting roles among different tiers of cities in agenda setting but also by their varying capacities to implement policies. This study emphasizes the nexus and temporality between public authorities and social forces in the development of city-regions.