Is the incipient Chinese civil society playing a role in regenerating historic urban areas? Evidence from Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai

Verdini, G. 2015. Is the incipient Chinese civil society playing a role in regenerating historic urban areas? Evidence from Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai. Habitat International. 50, pp. 366-372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2015.09.008

TitleIs the incipient Chinese civil society playing a role in regenerating historic urban areas? Evidence from Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai
TypeJournal article
AuthorsVerdini, G.
Abstract

Urban regeneration in Western countries can count on a long-lasting tradition of experiences in which civil society has played a fundamental role in counterbalancing the system of power, resulting in profound urban governance readjustments. This has been the result of the increasing centrality of horizontal alliances between citizens and associations involved in urban affairs since the late 1960s in the West.
Similar theoretical frameworks have been applied in China. However, these have frequently resulted in conceptual shortcuts that depict civil society as immature or lacking and the state as authoritarian. This paper will explore whether these categories are still entirely valid to urban regeneration in China. While the regime has traditionally prevented horizontal linkages of associations in urban governance (supporting their vertical integration to ensure a certain degree of soft control), there are signs of change. In particular, three cases of urban regeneration in historic areas will be used to discuss the changing role played by civil society in China. The ultimate goal is to examine whether horizontal linkages across groups of heterogeneous citizens are arising at the micro-level of urban governance.

KeywordsUrban regeneration, Historic districts, Horizontal linkages, Community, Civil society, China
JournalHabitat International
Journal citation50, pp. 366-372
ISSN0197-3975
Year2015
PublisherElsevier
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2015.09.008
Web address (URL)http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2015.09.008
Publication dates
Published in printDec 2015
Published online19 Sep 2015

Related outputs

Heritage-led regeneration in Chinese intermediary cities: understanding incremental changes under a ‘business as usual’ urban governance regime
Verdini, Giulio and Xin, Shengxi 2024. Heritage-led regeneration in Chinese intermediary cities: understanding incremental changes under a ‘business as usual’ urban governance regime. Town Planning Review. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.3828/tpr.2023.41

Heritage Exclusivism in Postcolonial Algeria: Assessing Local Heritageness in Annaba, Towards a Holistic and Participatory Approach to Urban Heritage Management
Aouchal, Hocine, Boufenara, Khedidja and Verdini, Giulio 2022. Heritage Exclusivism in Postcolonial Algeria: Assessing Local Heritageness in Annaba, Towards a Holistic and Participatory Approach to Urban Heritage Management. The Historic Environment: Policy & Practice. 13 (4), pp. 399-425. https://doi.org/10.1080/17567505.2022.2146236

Climate Urbanism in the Post-pandemic World: Mapping Vulnerabilities and Exploring Community Activism in East London
Verdini, G. and Dean, C. 2022. Climate Urbanism in the Post-pandemic World: Mapping Vulnerabilities and Exploring Community Activism in East London. in: Giorgi, E., Cattaneo, T., Flores Herrera, A. M. and Aceves Tarango, V. (ed.) Design for Vulnerable Communities Cham. Springer. pp. 245-262

Management Planning for Cultural Heritage. Places and Their Significance
Taylor, K. and Verdini, G. 2022. Management Planning for Cultural Heritage. Places and Their Significance. London Routledge.

Heritage and Memory
Verdini, G., Evans, H., Demgenski, P., Kendall, P. and Zhang, L. 2021. Heritage and Memory. in: Kehoe, S. and Wielander, G. (ed.) Cultural China 2020: The Contemporary China Centre Review London University of Westminster Press. pp. 85-102

Enabling the City: Learning for Transformational Change
Fokdal, J., Bina, O. and Verdini, G. 2021. Enabling the City: Learning for Transformational Change. in: Enabling the City Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Encounters in Research and Practice London Routledge. pp. 265-281

A Creative “Nanotown”. Framing Sustainable Development Scenarios with Local People in Calabria
Verdini, G., Bina, O., Chiles, P., Guerrieri, M. P. and et alii 2021. A Creative “Nanotown”. Framing Sustainable Development Scenarios with Local People in Calabria. in: Enabling the City. Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Encounters in Research and Practice London Routledge. pp. 65-79

Culture and Rural-Urban Sustainable Development: Is South Africa Addressing this New Global Agenda?
Verdini, G. and Sirayi, M. 2021. Culture and Rural-Urban Sustainable Development: Is South Africa Addressing this New Global Agenda? in: Culture and Rural–Urban Revitalisation in South Africa Indigenous Knowledge, Policies, and Planning Routledge.

Introduction: Culture and Rural-Urban Revitalization in South Africa
Verdini, G. 2021. Introduction: Culture and Rural-Urban Revitalization in South Africa. in: Sirayi, M., Kanyane, M. and Verdini, G. (ed.) Culture and Rural-Urban Revitalisation in South Africa: Indigenous Knowledge, Policies, and Planning London Routledge.

Creative-led strategies for peripheral settlements and the uneasy transition towards sustainability
Verdini, G. 2021. Creative-led strategies for peripheral settlements and the uneasy transition towards sustainability. International Planning Studies. 26 (2), pp. 149-164. https://doi.org/10.1080/13563475.2020.1779043

Book Review: Peri-Urban China: Land Use, Growth, and Integrated Urban–Rural Development
Verdini, G. 2020. Book Review: Peri-Urban China: Land Use, Growth, and Integrated Urban–Rural Development. China Information. 34 (2), pp. 301-302. https://doi.org/10.1177/0920203X20927568f

Urban China: The Tortuous Path Towards Sustainability
Verdini, G. and Zhang, L. 2020. Urban China: The Tortuous Path Towards Sustainability. Planning Theory & Practice. 21 (2), pp. 330-336. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649357.2020.1726078

ILAUD in Suzhou, China, 2012-15
Verdini, G. 2019. ILAUD in Suzhou, China, 2012-15. in: Giancarlo De Carlo and ILAUD. A movable frontier. The International Laboratory of Architecture and Urban Design from 1976 Milan Fondazione OAMi. pp. 186-187

Enhancing Rural-Urban Linkages Through the Historic Urban Landscape Approach: The Case of Shuang Wan Cun in the Jiangsu Province
Verdini, G. and Huang, F. 2019. Enhancing Rural-Urban Linkages Through the Historic Urban Landscape Approach: The Case of Shuang Wan Cun in the Jiangsu Province. in: Roders, A.P. and Bandarin, F. (ed.) Reshaping Urban Conservation Singapore Springer. pp. 459-472

The Chinese in Southern Europe: Has urban regeneration addressed their new form of clustering?
Verdini, G. and Russo, E. 2019. The Chinese in Southern Europe: Has urban regeneration addressed their new form of clustering? Documents d'Anàlisi Geogràfica. 65 (1), pp. 163-184. https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/dag.402

Book Review: Waterways and the cultural landscape
Verdini, G. 2018. Book Review: Waterways and the cultural landscape. Buildings and Landscapes. 25 (2), pp. 118-120 25.

INTREPID Futures Initiative: The future of Academia and trans-disciplinary knowledge production in the urban field, 6th INTREPID Report
Verdini, G., Bina, O. and Cioboata, A. 2018. INTREPID Futures Initiative: The future of Academia and trans-disciplinary knowledge production in the urban field, 6th INTREPID Report. London COST ACTION TD1408.

Voices for alternative urban regeneration practices in China: the case of the historic district of Taohuawu
Verdini, G. and Yang, X. 2018. Voices for alternative urban regeneration practices in China: the case of the historic district of Taohuawu. in: Zhou, J. and van Oers, R. (ed.) Operationalising the Historic Urban Landscape – A practitioner’s view Shanghai Tongji University Press. pp. 189-211

La maniera di Suzhou: innovazione urbana e continuità urbano-rurale
Verdini, G. and Huang, F. 2017. La maniera di Suzhou: innovazione urbana e continuità urbano-rurale. Urbanistica Informazioni. XXXXIV (272), pp. 67-75 272.

Book Review: Understanding China's Urbanization: The Great Demographic, Spatial, Economic, and Social Transformation
Verdini, G. 2017. Book Review: Understanding China's Urbanization: The Great Demographic, Spatial, Economic, and Social Transformation. Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal. 11 (1), pp. 106-108.

Planetary Urbanisation and the Built Heritage from a Non-Western Perspective: The Question of 'How' We Should Protect the Past
Verdini, G. 2017. Planetary Urbanisation and the Built Heritage from a Non-Western Perspective: The Question of 'How' We Should Protect the Past. Built Heritage. 1 (3), pp. 73-82 1.

INTREPID Futures Initiative: Universities and Knowledge for Sustainable Urban Futures: as if inter and trans-disciplinarity mattered. 4th INTREPID REPORT
Bina, O., Verdini, G., Inch, A., Varanda, M., Guevara, M. and Chiles, P. 2017. INTREPID Futures Initiative: Universities and Knowledge for Sustainable Urban Futures: as if inter and trans-disciplinarity mattered. 4th INTREPID REPORT. COST ACTION TD1408.

Creative small settlements. Culture-based solutions for local sustainable development.
Verdini, G. and Ceccarelli, P. 2017. Creative small settlements. Culture-based solutions for local sustainable development. London University of Westminster.

Opposition and resistance: Governance challenges around urban growth in China and the UK
Sturzaker, J. and Verdini, G. 2017. Opposition and resistance: Governance challenges around urban growth in China and the UK. Journal of Urban Management. 6 (1), pp. 30-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jum.2017.02.001

Reframing China’s heritage conservation discourse. Learning by testing civic engagement tools in a historic rural village
Verdini, G. 2017. Reframing China’s heritage conservation discourse. Learning by testing civic engagement tools in a historic rural village. International Journal of Heritage Studies. 23 (4), pp. 317-334. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2016.1269358

Enabling Sustainable Economies in Marginal Areas: the Problem of Measuring Culture and Creativity
Verdini, G. 2016. Enabling Sustainable Economies in Marginal Areas: the Problem of Measuring Culture and Creativity. Second UNESCO Creative Cities Beijing Summit. Beijing 06 - 08 Jun 2016

Culture as a tool for harmonious territorial development
Verdini, G. 2016. Culture as a tool for harmonious territorial development. in: Culture: Urban Future. Global Report on Culture for Sustainable Urban Development Paris UNESCO. pp. 212-219

Urban China's Rural Fringe: Actors, dimensions and management challenges
Verdini, G., Wang, Y. and Zhang, X. 2016. Urban China's Rural Fringe: Actors, dimensions and management challenges. London-New York Routledge.

Preserving the historic landscape of a Chinese village: the case of Wujiang, Suzhou, China, in, The HUL Guidebook: Managing heritage in dynamic and constantly changing urban environments
Verdini, G., Re, A., Rogers, A.P., Veldpaus, L., Juma, M., Fayad, S. and Zhou, J. 2016. Preserving the historic landscape of a Chinese village: the case of Wujiang, Suzhou, China, in, The HUL Guidebook: Managing heritage in dynamic and constantly changing urban environments. Shanghai WHITRAP.

The rural fringe in China: existing conflicts and prospective urban-rural synergies
Verdini, G. 2016. The rural fringe in China: existing conflicts and prospective urban-rural synergies. in: Verdini, G., Wang, Y. and Zhang, X. (ed.) Urban China's Rural Fringe: Actors, dimensions and management challenges London-New York Routledge. pp. 1-15

Is effective city-regional governance viable in the next urbanisation campaign of China?
Verdini, G. 2016. Is effective city-regional governance viable in the next urbanisation campaign of China? China Policy Review. 2016 (4), pp. 95-97.

Conclusion
Verdini, G. 2016. Conclusion. in: Verdini, G., Wang, Y. and Zhang, X. (ed.) Urban China's rural fringe London and New York Routledge. pp. 199-200

Training and action-research for sustainable rural fringe development in urban China: achievements and limitations
Verdini, G. 2015. Training and action-research for sustainable rural fringe development in urban China: achievements and limitations. 7th International AESOP Sustainable Food Planning Conference . Turin 08 - 09 Oct 2015

Assessing local food systems in China for building healthy mega-cities
Verdini, G. 2015. Assessing local food systems in China for building healthy mega-cities. in: Better planning, healthier cities Suzhou Soochow University Press. pp. 264-276

Clichy-Batignolles, Paris: a case of successful inner-city regeneration
Verdini, G. 2015. Clichy-Batignolles, Paris: a case of successful inner-city regeneration. World Architecture. 306 (12), pp. 124-127. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1002-4832.2015.12.020

The role of geographical proximity in the establishment and development of science parks – evidence from Nanjing, China
Guo, Y. and Verdini, G. 2015. The role of geographical proximity in the establishment and development of science parks – evidence from Nanjing, China. Asian Geographer. 32 (2), pp. 117-133. https://doi.org/10.1080/10225706.2015.1079726

Urban Administrative Restructuring as a New Urbanization Strategy: A Case Study of Bengbu City, Anhui Province
Guo, Y. and Verdini, G. 2014. Urban Administrative Restructuring as a New Urbanization Strategy: A Case Study of Bengbu City, Anhui Province. County Territory & Development under the New Urbanization Perspective. Nanjing (China) 28 - 30 Nov 2014

Orizzonte Cina: le sfide dell’urbanizzazione al 2020
Verdini, G. 2014. Orizzonte Cina: le sfide dell’urbanizzazione al 2020. Archivio di Studi Urbani e Regionali. XLV (111), pp. 156-163. https://doi.org/10.3280/ASUR2014-111008

The costs of urban growth at the fringe of a Chinese city: evidence from Jinshi Village in Suzhou
Verdini, G. 2014. The costs of urban growth at the fringe of a Chinese city: evidence from Jinshi Village in Suzhou. International Development Planning Review. 36 (4), pp. 413-434. https://doi.org/10.3828/idpr.2014.27

Rise, fragmentation, infringement and fear: emerging urban issues in Chinese clustering in Italy
Verdini, G. 2011. Rise, fragmentation, infringement and fear: emerging urban issues in Chinese clustering in Italy. in: Gonzalez Brun, A., Low, B., Rosemann, J. and Widodo, J. (ed.) Global visions: risks and opportunities for the urban planet Centre for Advanced Studies in Architecture, National University of Singapore CASA. pp. 245-256

Cohousing di pianura. Ripensare l’abitare in chiave solidale e a zero consumo di suolo
Leder, F., Verdini, G. and Durante, C. 2010. Cohousing di pianura. Ripensare l’abitare in chiave solidale e a zero consumo di suolo. Territorio. 52, pp. 68-72. https://doi.org/10.3280/TR2010-052011

Il progetto di territorio per la grande regione del Delta del Po
Leder, F. and Verdini, G. 2009. Il progetto di territorio per la grande regione del Delta del Po. in: Leder, F. (ed.) Paesaggi in Piano. Contributi al progetto per un territorio rurale sostenibile Bologna Compositori Editori.

Dalla governance delle aree rurali alla costruzione di progetti di paesaggio
Verdini, G. 2009. Dalla governance delle aree rurali alla costruzione di progetti di paesaggio. in: Leder, F. (ed.) Paesaggi in Piano. Contributi al progetto per un territorio rurale sostenibile Bologna Compositori Editori. pp. 45-52

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/9w873/is-the-incipient-chinese-civil-society-playing-a-role-in-regenerating-historic-urban-areas-evidence-from-nanjing-suzhou-and-shanghai


Share this

Usage statistics

188 total views
504 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.