Vision
"Liquid Territories" represents a conceptual framework for understanding the evolving urban landscapes of the Pearl River Delta (PRD), combining both the fluidity of natural elements and the transformative forces of urbanization. Drawing inspiration from Zygmunt Bauman's theory of liquid modernity, “Liquid Territories” delves into how the region's urbanization mirrors Bauman's notion of liquid social structures — constantly shifting, ambiguous, and fluid. The PRD, an economic powerhouse in southern China, has undergone a dramatic transformation, driven by top-down policies and rapid industrialization. However, these processes have not been seamless; instead, they have led to fragmented landscapes and blurred boundaries between urban and rural areas, which encapsulate the fluid dynamics of the territory.
In Bauman's Liquid Modernity, he describes a society where traditional structures are eroded, and individuals must navigate a constantly shifting social, economic, and political environment. This resonates deeply with the urbanization of the PRD, where the once stable and industrially focused economy of the 1980s and 1990s is now transitioning towards a more fluid, service-oriented and technology-driven landscape. In line with Bauman's analysis, this transformation has created new economic conditions and social uncertainties. The shift from "solid" industry (such as manufacturing in Dongguan and Foshan) to "liquid" forms of employment in the gig economy, with its unstable labor market and transient workforce, underscores this process of fluid social structures. In this way, the PRD’s industrial landscape moves from one defined by fixed, stable work environments to one that offers flexibility and instability, where workers’ employment and even their living arrangements become fluid and temporary.
The notion of "liquid" in the context of the PRD also reflects the hydrological environment of the region — a land shaped by rivers, estuaries, and seas, creating a fertile and strategic environment for human habitation. Just as water constantly shifts and adapts to its surroundings, urban life in the PRD is defined by constant change and adaptation. The interactions between humans and nature in this region, from the reclamation of land for development to the complex negotiations between ecological preservation and urban expansion, form a critical part of the region’s fluidity. This ongoing balance and negotiation is emblematic of the liquid territories concept — where the urban-rural divide is not fixed but fluid, with borders constantly dissolving and reforming.
Furthermore, the concept of "territories" in urban studies, traditionally defined by boundaries and enclosed spaces, is increasingly difficult to apply in a region like the PRD, where rapid urban growth and the flow of capital, labor, and ideas blur traditional urban boundaries. The once clearly defined areas of urban and rural zones have become more interconnected, creating complex socio-ecological systems. Urban areas spill over into the countryside, and vice versa, as infrastructure development (such as transportation networks) facilitates the compression of space and time. This compression creates a paradoxical situation where physical proximity increases, but social connections and community bonds weaken, a key characteristic of Bauman’s liquid society.
By examining the PRD as a Complex Adaptive System (CAS), we approach urbanization not as a static phenomenon, but as a dynamic, multi-layered process where different systems—social, economic, and environmental—are in constant flux. The PRD’s urbanization, like liquid itself, resists simple categorization and instead demands an interdisciplinary approach that integrates geography, history, economics, and social science. In adopting this perspective, we shift our focus to the relationships between the natural landscape and the built environment, recognizing that the boundaries between these realms are as fluid as the watercourses that shape the region’s geography.
"Liquid Territories" aims to map the rapidly changing and adaptive nature of the PRD’s urbanization, acknowledging the region’s shifting boundaries and complex interactions. It challenges traditional views of urban space by embracing fluidity, both in its physical geography and in the social, economic, and political realities of its inhabitants.
This website presents a body of knowledge for Urban Research in the Pearl River Delta area. In doing so, it opens up new possibilities for understanding and designing cities in a world that is increasingly unpredictable and unstable.