The Glocalization of Shanghai Disneyland (Routledge Focus on Asia)

Focusing on Disney’s production of Shanghai Disneyland, this book examines how the Chinese state and the local market influence Disney’s ownership and production of the identities and the representations of Shanghai Disneyland. Qualitative methods are here applied to combine both primary and secondary data, including document analysis, participant observation, and in-depth interviews.

Shanghai Disneyland is purposely created to be different from the other Disneylands, under the “authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese” mandate. In order to survive and thrive in China, Disney carefully constructs Shanghai Disneyland as Disneyland with Chinese characteristics. Previous studies tend to link Disney with cultural imperialism; however, this book argues that it is not imperialism but glocalization that promotes a global company’s interests in China. In particular, the findings suggest state-capital-led glocalization: glocalization led by economic capital of the state (direct investment) and economic capital with the state (market potential). Furthermore, the four categories of glocalization with different conditions, considerations, and consequences illustrate various global–local dynamics in the process of a global formation of locality.

The Glocalization of Shanghai Disneyland will appeal to students and scholars of sociology, communication studies, business studies, and Asian studies more broadly.

Ni-Chen Sung received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from National Taiwan University, Master’s Degree in TV-Radio-Film from Syracuse University in the United States, and PhD Degree in Communication from The Chinese University of Hong Kong with research interests in globalization, film studies, and the cultural industries. New in academia but experienced in the industry, Dr. Sung has nearly two decades of regional experiences in the entertainment industry. With The Walt Disney Company, she was a Writer/Producer in Singapore, Head of Creative in Taiwan, and Director of Production in Beijing and Shanghai. She also worked on a couple of projects with Singapore’s MediaCorp Channel 8 as Creator, and with Discovery Networks as Executive Producer. Dr. Sung aims to leverage industry experiences and academic studies to generate humble knowledge for a better understanding of the world.