Shaping Urban Villages in the Pearl River Delta: An Exploration of the State’s Impact from a Foucauldian Perspective

Abstract

In the backdrop of China’s pervasive urbanisation, particularly evident in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), this thesis adopts a qualitative methodological approach to scrutinise the impact of the state on urban villages and their inhabitants. Examining governance across various levels, involving governmental bodies, non-state actors, and other stakeholders, the research encompasses the intricacies of everyday governance and urban renewal in PRD’s urban villages.
The study unfolds multifaceted dimensions of this influence, incorporating historical perspectives through a Foucauldian analysis. I will discuss four contributions of the thesis. Firstly, a historical analysis dating back to 1949 reveals the strategic construction and institutionalisation of the urban/rural divide, challenging its presumed natural occurrence.
Secondly, urban villages are portrayed as constructed narratives across different programs, necessitating intervention. Three modes of governmentality in urban villages emerge: the surveillance model on self-built housing since the 1990s, the calculation model since the 2000s, and the rejuvenation model since the 2010s.
Thirdly, the examination of activities orchestrated by voluntary and social groups identifies two subjects: socially responsible individuals with aspirations and entrepreneurial subjects. This sheds light on how state objectives translate into daily practices through the dissemination of knowledge among diverse non-state actors.
Finally, the thesis scrutinises urban villages as living spaces for migrants, exploring how they navigate and respond to norms dictated by various governmental techniques. It provides unique insights into migrants’ experiences with state, city, and village-level governance, shaping their identities and encounters.
In essence, this thesis provides a comprehensive and nuanced examination of the state’s impact on urban villages, contributing to an enhanced understanding of governance, urbanisation, and urban/rural population management in contemporary China.