Social Space and Governance in Urban China (review)

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-73
Author(s):  
Hong Yung Lee
Keyword(s):  
2013 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Su ◽  
Shizheng Feng

We study the propensity for protest in the context of individuals’ alternative choices in urban China. Depending on the number and quality of social ties (orguanxiin Chinese), individuals may resort to one of two alternatives: to engineer life-changing events through personal connections or to join others in labor protest. We call one “adaptation” and the other “voice.” As our working hypothesis, we first expect them to be mutually exclusive. That is, adaptation throughguanxinetworks may help diffuse the will to protest, as those who enjoy betterguanxinetworks would advance their class status through such networks. With data from a national survey, our analysis rejects this working hypothesis. Those who are better connected are not only more likely to adapt but also more inclined to voice, and the effect of social ties on protest is significantly smaller for those who are connected to people with power. The implications are twofold. First, our data not only confirm the well-known effect of social connections on protest, but also specify the effects caused by high-class versus low-class connections. Second, in a comparative vein, the individual decision making on adaptation and/or voice offers a glimpse into the intertwining domains of social space in contemporary China.


Author(s):  
Li Xiujie ◽  
Fu Hongpeng ◽  
Yang Meng

The social structure and physical form of the state-owned farm in north-east China Xiujie Li, Hongpeng Fu, Meng Yang College of Urban and Environmental Sciences. Peking University. Beijing. China. 100871 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]   Keywords: state-owned farm, policy, social structure, physical form, urban morphology Conference topics and scale: Urban form and social use of space   State-owned farms in north-east China are numerous and large in size. They have played an important role in the reclamation and guarding of the frontier in China.  Their physical form is sensitive to government policy. Following the historical development of a particular farm, an examination is made of how its social structure and physical form have been influenced by the policies of different periods. The development process has experienced three stages since this farm’s founding. There has been a change from ‘farmers farming together on the land which belongs to the whole farm’ to ‘farmers farming together on the land which belongs to the companies of the farm’, and then ‘farmers farming severally on the land’.  The physical form of the farm has been influenced by the policies in different historical periods. Important aspects of these policies include industrial structure, population structure, land ownership, and town and country planning. This study provides a basis for future urban morphological research.   References Conzen, M.R.G. (2011) Alnwick, Northumberland: a study in town-plan analysis (China Architecture & Building Press, China) Bray, D. (2005) Social space and governance in urban China (Stanford University Press, Stanford) 


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document