Ethnographic perspectives on the mediation of informality between people and plans in urbanising China
Abstract
In this introduction to some of the themes of this special issue on People and plans in urbanising
China, I draw on Herbert Gans’ prescient comments about the importance of informality in med-
iating between plans and the various groups of people, users and planners, who shape their for-
mation and implementation. Informality is even more important in the governance of cities in China.
Comparing contemporary Chinese cities with Hong Kong, I suggest that informal responses,
both in society and within government, can produce significant changes in plans that may increase
the effectiveness or appropriateness of urban governance. Careful ethnographic research is
required, however, in order to access the subtle and non-public nature of such inter- actions and
their consequences. This commentary draws out some of the themes from articles included in this
special issue, and highlights how informality intersects with plans and the people
who create them and are influenced by them.
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Citation
“Ethnographic perspectives on the mediation of informality between people and plans in urbanising China” Urban Studies Online First January 16, 2018. https://doi.dox.org/10.1177/0042098017745440