Chinese Collaborative Planning in the Digital Era: Institutions, Power Relations, and Public Spheres

Abstract

Chinese Collaborative Planning in the Digital Era: Institutions, Power Relations, and Public Spheres is the first accessible text on theoretical underpinnings and extensive case material on China’s collaborative planning. It questions the validity of agonistic and communicative approaches and lays out a new theoretical framework for collaborative planning in China. The book also elaborates the changing governance contexts for collaborative planning in China, including the participative and deliberative turn, and the impact of social media and digital transition on power relations and public spheres. Collaborative planning has become a practical solution to solve increasingly complex problems and the challenges of sustainability under rapid economic development. The authors present several in-depth case studies of collaborative practices in the fields of urban regeneration, environmental protection, and green initiatives in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, and other cities. The materials of the case studies are collected from in-depth fieldwork in China, practical experience, and online social networking sites. The book not only gives an overview of collaborative practices and policies in China but also reflects the universal collaborative planning theory and presents new research methodologies. The interdisciplinary nature of the book makes it interesting for students, educators, scholars, and practitioners in spatial planning, environmental planning, public policy, and new media fields.