New urban space, planetary urbanization, and urban China studies

Keywords: Urban, urban theory, urban studies, China
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Saturday
Session Start / End Time: 2/26/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/26/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 62

Abstract

This piece is written for the panel of the Asian geographer annual lecture by Professor Neil Brenner to share my understandings of the emerging theories of new urban space, planetary urbanization, and their linkages with the case of urban China. First, urban China study is in need of new theories, especially critical ones as put by Neil Brenner.The urban per se should be reconceptualized. Brenner’s work provides inspiring directions and guides. Second, urban China study is in need of a planetary perspective. Extant studies often resort to the particularity of China to interrogate its urbanization dynamics, most narrow their eye sights just upon China per se. Beyond the territory of China, however, we can deeper understand its process of urbanization, as which is de facto a global process. Third, the knowledge production of urban China study also needs new changes. Today there are two world of urban China studies, and there is an epistemological division: one world is featured by quantitative studies, ‘authoritative’ science, and practice-oriented researches in mainland China, the other world is largely marked by qualitative studies, pluralism, and social sciences, across overseas such as the UK and the US. Following the call of Neil Brenner for critical urban studies, both sides need to critically rethink about their paradigms and need to engage with the other sides for to truly decipher the 21st century urbanization in China.