Development and dissent in China’s ‘urban age’
Hyun Bang Shin – As China enters an ‘urban age’ for the first time in its entire history, a new set of urban conflicts over identity, development and inclusion are emerging across the country.
Chinese cities are increasingly becoming sites of discontent and polarisation, as the rising affluence enjoyed by some is achieved by the exploitation of the many. The state pursuit of land resources and promotion of investment in fixed assets will continue to bring about radical changes to the ways in which people access and share any accrued wealth in cities. With the majority of the national population now classified as urban as of 2011, China has entered an ‘urban age’ for the first time in its entire history, the future prospect of China’s social, economic and political development will depend on how these rising urban conflicts are addressed. The lonely nail-household is a telling image of how China’s isolated protests fail to bring about meaningful change to the lives of those worse effected in the rush to urbanise.
Reading Development 