The Concrete Plateau: Urban Tibetans and the Chinese Civilizing Machine

In his book "The Concrete Plateau," Andrew Grant explores how urbanization has spread into the Tibetan Plateau, challenging the notion that it erodes essential aspects of Tibetan culture. He shows how Tibetans sustain their community through assertion of cultural identity and modification of the built environment, preventing assimilation into China's national urban project. The book offers insights into the politics of urban development in diverse contexts around the world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 222 pages
Publication date: 28 June 2022
Publisher: Cornell University Press

In his captivating book, "The Concrete Plateau," Andrew Grant delves into the profound ways in which urbanization has encroached upon the Tibetan Plateau. It is a common misconception that Tibetans are not urbanized or that their urban presence signifies a loss of cultural essence. Grant challenges this notion by undertaking an in-depth exploration of the experiences of Tibetans in the rapidly growing city of Xining, the largest city on the Tibetan Plateau. Through his meticulous research, Grant unveils how Tibetans actively resist the civilizing machine of China, a product of state-led urbanization that seeks to marginalize ethnic and indigenous groups.

In their homes, neighborhoods, and businesses, Tibetans assert their cultural identity and actively modify the built environment to prevent assimilation into China's national urban project. "The Concrete Plateau" offers valuable insights into the politics of urban development not only in Tibet and China but also in diverse contexts around the world. Its findings hold significant importance for scholars studying urban development in the Global South, where in-migrating ethnic and indigenous groups navigate top-down urban projects. Grant's book challenges prevailing notions of urbanization, rurality, culture, and the politics of place, offering a profound rethinking of these critical aspects of our contemporary world.

Weight: 57g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501764097