Gentrification in Chinese Cities: State Institutions, Space and Society

This book provides an institutional interpretation of state-facilitated gentrification in Chengdu, China, highlighting the creative destruction of consumption spaces, the spatial production of excess, and the unequal redistribution of spatial resources to low-income residents. It explores the interactions between state and society in navigating these changes and forming Chinese distinctions of gentrification. The author argues that gentrification in Chengdu is a transformative force of development led by the state and capitalists, championed by middle-class consumers, and periodically catalyzes new spaces and collective cultures. However, in the context of China's unique state-society relations, some low-income groups may also ride the wave of social transformation. The book contributes to methodological issues on gentrification research on a global scale, treating institutional change as an intermediary that responds to global trends and adapts to local preconditions.

Format: Hardback
Length: 209 pages
Publication date: 21 May 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This book delves into the intricate dynamics of state-facilitated gentrification in Chengdu, an emerging central city in China. It offers a comprehensive institutional interpretation of the processes that have shaped gentrification in the transitional economy, encompassing three key aspects: the creative destruction of consumption spaces, the spatial production of excess, and the unequal redistribution of spatial resources to low-income residents. Through a detailed examination of the interactions between state and society, the author argues that these three institutional changes define gentrification in Chengdu as a transformative force driven by the state and capitalists, with the support of middle-class consumers. This gentrification mode creates new spaces and collective cultures, which in turn stimulate new consumption behaviors and the formation of new consumer classes. However, it also comes at the expense of the spatial demands of the larger low-income population.

In the context of China's unique state-society relations, some low-income groups may also benefit from the wave of social transformation. The author suggests that this form of gentrification integrates into China's unique model of urbanization and development, which is often state-driven, innovative, and even involuted to sustain continuous growth. While the research primarily focuses on urban China, this book also contributes to methodological issues on gentrification research on a global scale. It challenges both the structural explanation and the revelat approach to gentrification and offers a more nuanced understanding of the complex processes at play.

Overall, this book provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of state-facilitated gentrification, shedding light on the ways in which the state, capital, and consumers interact to shape urban spaces and transform social identities. It is a must-read for scholars and practitioners interested in understanding the evolving landscape of urban China and the broader implications of gentrification in the global context.

Weight: 524g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811922855
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022