In‐Situ Marginalisation: Social Impact of Chinese Mega‐Projects

Abstract

This study offers a detailed analysis of an under-researched social problem of in-situ marginalisation and its causes by drawing on the concept of state entrepreneurialism. Our empirical data stem from the Lingang mega project in Shanghai and one of its neighbourhoods named Neighbourhood No.57 where we find that the residents have not been relocated but are instead suffering from declining public services and environmental quality from surrounding industrial developments. The root cause of this problem is the municipal government's prioritisation of its strategic objectives of economic development over the livelihood of local residents. The strategic vision of the municipality has led to mass relocation in its early phases of development but in its later stages leaves many residents waiting for relocation whilst being gradually surrounded by industrial developments. Despite continued residential complaints and petitions, in-situ marginalisation is not resolved due to the institutional arrangement of Lingang, which has centralised planning and financing powers to newly created projectoriented state organisation. Social responsibilities have been relegated to lower-tiered governments in Lingang which have neither planning power nor the financial resources to resolve the problems of residents. By examining the case of Lingang, this paper provides a different analytical framework for explaining the social problems emerging from China's mega urban developments.Abstract: 本文运用 "国家企业家主义" (state entrepreneurialism) 的概念分析 "就地边 缘化" (in-situ marginalisation) 的社会问题。 案例来自于上海临港新城内的某社区。该社 区的居民没有因为重大项目而动迁，但面临公共设施不足，受到由周边工业开发所引起的 环境污染问题的影响。就地边缘化问题是由于市政府着重于经济发展战略。为达成战略目 标，开发项目的管理制度将经济发展和规划权利转移到侧重负责开发的管委会和国企开发 公司，而将社会管理下放给缺乏经济能力的镇政府。由于这样侧重于经济的战略开发和相 应的管理模式，这些与重大项目关系不大的社区居民就出现了就地边缘化。通过此案例， 本文提供了一个与西方理论不同的框架来诠释中国重大项目开发所导致的社会问题。

Exploring the Impacts of Living in a “Green” City on Individual BMI: A Study of Lingang New Town in Shanghai, China

“…The unevenness of one’s lifestyle and health can be exacerbated by local planning. To avoid marginalizing disadvantaged social groups [ 17 , 52 ], green city planning and design should focus on achieving a good distribution of green space access throughout green city neighborhoods, prioritizing this over the construction of larger spaces with prescribed uses for manifestation. A focus should be placed on presenting green space as a “blank canvas”, allowing residents to invent a sense of place which harmonizes the physical and socio-cultural benefits of green space access.…”

“…This paper aims to examine residents’ health benefits from moving to a brand-new green city—Lingang New Town (LNT)—in Shanghai, thereby providing existing discussions on the relationship between sustainable urban planning and health with a new perspective rooted in housing modes. LNT is one of the most strategically important mega-urban projects in China [ 50 , 51 , 52 ]. It is located 30 km southeast of central Shanghai, on land reclaimed from the sea, covering an area of 315 km 2 .…”

“…Five functional zones have been planned, with a central residential zone and a heavy-equipment manufacturing zone providing a modern environment while the rest of the zones remain as traditional townships. The original planning of LNT aimed to attract 0.8 million new residents by the end of 2020 [ 52 ]. In 2010, LNT was upgraded to a low carbon plot city by the Shanghai Municipal Government [ 54 ].…”

The state acts through the market: ‘State entrepreneurialism’ beyond varieties of urban entrepreneurialism

“…In the case of Beijing Yizhuang New Town (based on Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone) (Wu and Phelps, 2011) or Shanghai Lingang New Town (Wang and Wu, 2019; Wu, 2018), the development corporation is a municipal-level development agency, landing and operating in the territory of district governments. The introduction of a development corporation is accompanied by institutional and governance changes.…”

Perspectives on the Capabilities for the Selection of Strategic Projects

“…Authors recommend focusing on strategic issues that include the environment [56], social impact [57], risk mitigation [78], and high-level sustainability goals [37]. These issues and goals may pose constraints to the selection process.…”