Decoding policy mobility through a rhizomatic lens: spatiotemporal folding and power topology in translocal governance

Abstract This paper proposes an analytical framework to deconstruct the complexity of policy governance in globalization. Challenging traditional models’ static assumptions and linear diffusion narratives, it advances a dynamic perspective rooted in Deleuze’s rhizomatic theory and topological princi...

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Main Authors: Jie Guo, Hong‘ou Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-08-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05433-3
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author Jie Guo
Hong‘ou Zhang
author_facet Jie Guo
Hong‘ou Zhang
author_sort Jie Guo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This paper proposes an analytical framework to deconstruct the complexity of policy governance in globalization. Challenging traditional models’ static assumptions and linear diffusion narratives, it advances a dynamic perspective rooted in Deleuze’s rhizomatic theory and topological principles, conceptualizing policy formation as contingent intersections and topological emergence among cross-local knowledge nodes. Three analytical innovations transcend “global-local” binaries: (1) Rhizomatic evolution replaces linear transfer, emphasizing nonlinear knowledge connectivity and epistemic mutations across nodes; (2) Spatiotemporal folding reveals policy innovation emerge in the overlap of “near and far” policy references and historical sedimentation and future projections; (3) Topological power analysis uncovers entangled explicit/implicit power structures in global policy governance networks. By tracing policies’ processual emergence and the spatiotemporal dynamics behind it, the study clarifies the “geography of power relations” behind global knowledge production while offering a tool for navigating “global flows”—“local practices” dialectics. This broadens the analytical scope of policy mobility research and offers a alternative perspective for tackling policy governance challenges.
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spelling doaj-art-33878776d2ae43c8a34eda7d1ddf22732025-08-20T04:01:52ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-08-011211810.1057/s41599-025-05433-3Decoding policy mobility through a rhizomatic lens: spatiotemporal folding and power topology in translocal governanceJie Guo0Hong‘ou Zhang1School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of SciencesAbstract This paper proposes an analytical framework to deconstruct the complexity of policy governance in globalization. Challenging traditional models’ static assumptions and linear diffusion narratives, it advances a dynamic perspective rooted in Deleuze’s rhizomatic theory and topological principles, conceptualizing policy formation as contingent intersections and topological emergence among cross-local knowledge nodes. Three analytical innovations transcend “global-local” binaries: (1) Rhizomatic evolution replaces linear transfer, emphasizing nonlinear knowledge connectivity and epistemic mutations across nodes; (2) Spatiotemporal folding reveals policy innovation emerge in the overlap of “near and far” policy references and historical sedimentation and future projections; (3) Topological power analysis uncovers entangled explicit/implicit power structures in global policy governance networks. By tracing policies’ processual emergence and the spatiotemporal dynamics behind it, the study clarifies the “geography of power relations” behind global knowledge production while offering a tool for navigating “global flows”—“local practices” dialectics. This broadens the analytical scope of policy mobility research and offers a alternative perspective for tackling policy governance challenges.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05433-3
spellingShingle Jie Guo
Hong‘ou Zhang
Decoding policy mobility through a rhizomatic lens: spatiotemporal folding and power topology in translocal governance
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Decoding policy mobility through a rhizomatic lens: spatiotemporal folding and power topology in translocal governance
title_full Decoding policy mobility through a rhizomatic lens: spatiotemporal folding and power topology in translocal governance
title_fullStr Decoding policy mobility through a rhizomatic lens: spatiotemporal folding and power topology in translocal governance
title_full_unstemmed Decoding policy mobility through a rhizomatic lens: spatiotemporal folding and power topology in translocal governance
title_short Decoding policy mobility through a rhizomatic lens: spatiotemporal folding and power topology in translocal governance
title_sort decoding policy mobility through a rhizomatic lens spatiotemporal folding and power topology in translocal governance
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05433-3
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AT hongouzhang decodingpolicymobilitythrougharhizomaticlensspatiotemporalfoldingandpowertopologyintranslocalgovernance