The transfer of eco-city concepts to China: A selective and gradual policy transfer style?

To explain the poor results of several international collaborative projects dedicated to exploring eco-city concepts in China, some scholars pointed out that Chinese policymakers operate a form of cherry-picking that prefers technical knowledge to policy proposals. This approach is consistent with the hypothesis of a presumed Chinese style of policy transfers, according to which Chinese policymakers learn from abroad selectively and gradually. This study aims to test this hypothesis by analyzing one of these eco-city collaborations: the transfer of “Careful Urban Renewal” to the city of Yangzhou. Through a longitudinal study that looked at policy developments over the period 2003–2019 and a focus on the “demand side” of policy mobilities, it illustrates that transfers concerned several policy aspects, going beyond technical recommendations. This disconfirms the hypothesis of a consistent policy transfer style, as no specific policy preference could be spotted. Rather, the analysis of the policy process illustrated that different policy transfer styles emerged in the period considered. Variations in policy transfer style can be ascribed to the willingness, motivations, and interests of specific individuals, in particular city party secretaries and local bureaucrats, as well as to the room of maneuver and resources these actors possess, in turn, determined by the institutional structures in which they operate. Situational factors also led to variations. While this single case study cannot encompass all variations of policy transfer style, it is nonetheless hoped that this research inspires more longitudinal studies, which in turn can contribute to a promising discussion in policy studies and urban studies.