Introduction

Abstract

AbstractThis research focuses on the political nature of urban redevelopment from a governance perspective; characteristics of its governance will be analysed within the Chinese authoritarian regime. Urban redevelopment is chosen as the research object because it is significant and complex enough to be a typical case in Chinese economic growth. The main problem in urban redevelopment is the issue of social cooperation among different stakeholders; it is the problem of governance. Theories of governance origin from the developed world and their applications into Chinese context will bring about interesting development of governance studies and exciting reflection of Chinese politics. In this perspective, the most important characteristic of China’s political system, an authoritarian regime can strongly affect the characteristics of governance. Guangzhou, as the third largest city in China and the political-economic centre of south China, has been chosen as the studied site to reveal its political nature in Urban redevelopment. Based on this analysis, a resilient mode of governance in Guangzhou redevelopment can be established. This mode is a small fragment of mirror to reflect the whole political picture of China.