Community development in Chinese commodity housing estates through civic action

Abstract

In contrast to the ‘community lost’ argument describing the changing local social order in urban China, an increasing amount of local civic action is occurring in newly built Chinese commodity housing estates through the application of local social networks and capital, enabling the development of local community life. On the basis of the key themes underlying local civic action, in this study we develop a theoretical framework linking the application and development of local social networks and capital through multiple civic action steps by applying a dichotomised definition of social networks and considering the involvement of multiple stakeholders within China’s institutions. In a case study of a newly built Chinese commodity housing estate, we used interviews and questionnaires to identify social changes in the neighbourhood inspired by civic action that promotes place attachment, mutual trust and civic responsibility. The development of local community life is created in a heterogeneous neighbourhood, and the influence of civic action on the local social order is reflected within the Chinese context.