以全球城市為核心所構成之城市區域，已成為全球化過程中，新興的學術及政策論辯焦點，不僅被認為是新自由主義政策論述及實踐的重要實驗場所，並且存在一個假說：這些區域內部的城市，經常以合作聯盟的方式，共同強化在全球當中的領域競爭力。本文透過基隆再生論述、實踐及其現實的觀察，討論分析新自由主義化具體實踐的真實樣貌。本文指出，基隆市，作為臺北都會區中一個曾經輝煌的港口城市，近年來陸續浮現功能萎縮、城市衰退及轉型的壓力，主要交織著三個結構性困境：（1）後工業化時期，傳統單核心港埠經濟發展危機；（2）臺北市及新北市的磁吸效果，以及基隆市依賴經濟體的制度慣性，造成不對等的城際網絡競爭；（3）在雙北市的城際競爭中，基隆市採取同質的競爭策略，反而使其進一步陷入危機當中，進一步加速基隆市在城市區域中功能角色的邊緣化。顯然，新自由主義在城市區域的具體實踐，與理論上的說法有相當的落差。

Globalization not only focuses on a few important global cities that adapt to the global economic order, but also integrates cities located in close proximity to one another into global city-regions. City-regions are important sites of policy experimentation involving new regulatory structures and governance spaces that are strongly influenced by neoliberal policy discourses and practices. However, current work on city-regions is in danger of making a priori assumptions-coherent inter-urban networks and empowered regional governance entities must be created to strengthen territorial competitiveness in the process of globalization. This paper thus aims to examine a realistic neo-liberal city-region by exploring the discourse and reality of regeneration in Keelung City. Once a thriving seaport in metropolitan Taipei, Keelung City today is shrinking, and its transformation is interweaved with three predicaments. First, the traditional port-based economy suffered a crisis in the post-industrial era. Second, the city faces problems of population and capital flight as a result of the magnetic attraction from central Metropolitan Taipei. Third, Keelung City's institutional inertia of following so-called neoliberal best practice strategies potentially is accelerating its marginalization. Obviously, a considerable gap exists between the neoliberal theoretical script and the reality in city-regions.