Special Economic Zone as the node in the network

Keywords: SEZ, digital infrastructure, urbanization, smart city
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Infrastructure-driven urbanisation has been more frequently investigated since the ‘infrastructure turn’ in globalisation. Scholars have increasingly pointed out that infrastructure remains at the centre of China’s foreign policy, especially in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Drawing upon Michael Mann’s infrastructural power, the lens of Easterling’s infrastructure space, and Neveling’s understanding of SEZ, this paper aims to move beyond an exceptional perspective of SEZ and unravel the relations complex between zone and infrastructure, taking China-invested special economic zones in Cambodia as cases.
Huawei invested in the digital infrastructure system in Cambodia from a very early stage, from telecommunication facilities, and fixed-line telephone systems, to cell phones. Then it has the capability to incorporate industrial parks into its wide infrastructural networks. After the Chinese government clarified its emphasis on infrastructure in its overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone policy, Chinese developers transformed their overseas investments’ focus from real estate to infrastructure. The enclaved SEZs become infrastructural-zones, namely the node channeling more Chinese investors coming to Cambodia, especially areas outside the zone. Huawei then got the invitation and license to be involved in smart city design in Cambodia. With or without the intervention of the state, it promoted Chinese-style urbanisation that serves Chinese investors particularly or mainly based on development concepts from China, but excludes the local population in practice.