Redevelopment of urban villages in Shenzhen, China – An analysis of power relations and urban coalitions

Urban regeneration often involves complicated power relations among different stakeholders, in addition to the multi-actor governance structure. With a theoretical underpinning of the concept “regime building”, this paper examines how urban coalitions are being forged or dismantled in the process of redevelopment of urban villages in China. More importantly, this paper aims at illustrating how different forms of power relations eventually assist, deter and impact on the outcome of urban regeneration in this rural–urban transition in China. From examining the two cases (one more satisfactory than the other) in Shenzhen, we find that local authority in China plays a much more influential role than their counter-parts in the West. In addition, urban coalitions tend be more formal than that depicted by the Urban Regime theory. The more satisfactory case in this paper illustrates that the local authority which is diplomatic in their negotiation and shows commitment to support the private sector in the process of regeneration, especially in terms of resources and planning policy, tends to build more sustainable coalition that works, and vice versa.

► In this research, we examine the power politics in the redevelopment of urban villages in China. ► We examine two cases based on urban regime theory and framework. ► We find that power relations in China tend to be more formal with a more powerful local authority.