Eva Hájková, učo 273458, 273458@mail.muni.cz

Position paper:

 Bach, J. 2011. Modernity and Urban Imagination in economic Zones. Theory Culture Society  28: p.
98 – 122

The article refers about phenomenon of free economic zones (FEC), which are still more and more
visible parts of (urban) landscape. Although the very first zones can be found during the
colonization era, the restoration came in 1970´s mainly in the countries called “Asian tigers” such
as South Korea, or Thai wan.  Main aim in creating zones is generate profit – by international
corporations, which move their capital in an effort to create higher profit.  The zones can be on
one side high-tech places with highest incomes for its employees same as places with sweatshops
with the lowest salaries in country.

 According to the author, FECs are one of the most visible patterns of globalization in a sense of
free market, fluidity of capital and the homogenization of space. They become a symbol of
internalization of production within the world territories. FCEs are areas with no or low control
from local/state government, with lower demands on security of employees, less taxes and another
factors which makes them the most friendly places for international business. On the other side the
FECs can be also seen as: not ‘truly neo-liberal spaces  filled with neo-liberal rules and
institutions’ but rather ‘hybrid spaces composed of neo-liberalization and active state
intervention in industrial development’ that elicit contestation (Park, 2005: 868).

During the time, the perception of zone itself has change; it has changed from zone – space to Zone
as a place or the Ex- city – the city without history and origin and also as example of perfection.
It lies within the borders of state and city but: ‘everything it can to remain undetected by and
independent of any political jurisdiction [because it] is not sited in its locality but, rather,
positioned within a global network of similar enclaves serviced by autonomous infrastructure’
(Easterling 2005: 101).

Because of the sprawl of FECs, the negative side of it is more visible - such as displacement of
farmers or lack of land which is swallowed by these new, often large areas.  Also the unclear
position in global world makes from FECs world for itself, piece of globalized world, which does
not belong to the jurisdiction of the country.