Abstract
Chinese cities are emerging in multiple senses: They have created new physical spaces to accommodate the fast urbanization of the country but have also developed new properties and characteristics along with urban transformation. The novelty created by emerging cities in China is not easily covered by Western urban theory. This article examines the dynamism of Chinese urban transformation, especially political economic changes vis-à-vis so-called neoliberalism, and spatial outcomes as diverse and contrasting spaces of formality and informality. Finally, this article speculates on implications for global urban studies.
Highlights
Chinese cities are emerging in multiple senses: They have created new physical spaces to accommodate the fast urbanization of the country but have developed new properties and characteristics along with urban transformation
This article examines the dynamism of Chinese urban transformation, especially political economic changes vis-a-vis so-called neoliberalism, and spatial outcomes as diverse and contrasting spaces of formality and informality
Chinese cities share some features with third world cities in their underdeveloped economies and the challenges brought about by urbanization, socialist history since 1949 has created a distinctive political economy and urban spatial structure
Summary
Economic restructuring State retreat Outcasts “Zones of exception” Absence of property rights Consumer and lifestyle choice Private governance Concern for security Postindustrial, flexible spaces. Despite complaining about the use of neoliberalism (Ong 2007), Chinese urban studies provide a wide middle range of explanations for the dynamism of entrepreneuriallike government behavior, which include the system of cadre promotion, GDP growth mentality, property rights ambiguity, fiscal policy and incentives, and land-based finance. These highlight the various institutional foundations that generate the new process of urban development in China. In the Chinese case, though, land-driven development has been a key reason for suburban development, with local government, together with planning professionals, playing an important role in place creation
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