Urbanization in China - Critical Concepts in Urban Studies

Since the "Opening Up" period of 1978-80, China has urbanized with unprecedented speed. The construction of completely new cities and the dramatic redevelopment of existing urban centers have completely transformed the Chinese landscape. This urban revolution has generated an astonishing number and size of cities, undertaken with little thought for environmental and social consequences. Scholars striving to understand and analyze these remarkable and often contradictory urban phenomena have contributed to a large English language literature in multiple disciplines (geography, sociology, political science, urban planning, architecture, anthropology, and history). Since 1980, this literature has evolved alongside changes in the Chinese city, charting alterations in central government policies, municipal decision-making, and development practices along with their spatial outcomes. A key issue has been obsolescence. Keeping up with these transformations requires continuous research and revision, producing a literature rich in detailed studies of specific cities and regions but with few comprehensive works. Thus, the collection format is ideally suited for this body of scholarly research.

This collection, organized chronologically and thematically, will allow students, professors and scholars easy access to key works on Chinese urbanization covering a range of topics across three decades of research. This will clarify the shifting and often confusing terrain of urban scholarship on China. We will survey leading authorities in the field to identify the most significant and relevant contributions to the scholarly literature.