1. Aspects of Urbanization in China: Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou

Abstract

Despite the fact that architecture and the built environment confront all of us in our daily lives, they have received relatively little attention in discussions of globalization, capitalism, or postcolonialism. Certain types of architecture can be hegemonic in a class sense, serving specific class interests alongside their recognized aesthetic qualities. Until the middle of the twentieth century, this idea was discussed mainly in terms of monumentality and political power. However, in recent decades, with the spread of the culture-ideology of consumerism around the world, notably in the cities of the postcolonial newly independent countries of East Asia, iconic architecture is becoming increasingly important in understanding how capitalist globalization works.

Macropolization in the People’s Republic of China, 1950–2015

“…China has an extraordinarily long history of establishing cities and settlements; cities have always been the key link in socio-economic development. Chinese cities such as Kaifeng, Luoyang and Chang'an had for hundreds of years been among the largest cities in the world (Bracken 2012). Contemporary China -impressive economic growth and political changes aside -is also urbanizing dramatically (Jayne 2018).…”