In China, in the midst of rapid urban expansion, research has been focused on the urban sector. The rural sector is by no means less significant, yet it is left largely unexplored. Losing the land rights for urban expansion, the rural communities suffered from the deterioration of socio-economic conditions. The central government announced a rural resettlement policy in 2005 to pursue an urban-rural balanced urbanization mode. After experimenting with this plan on a large scale for one decade, its effectiveness has not been explored comprehensively. Current studies on urbanization and rural land development in China focused on the central and provincial governments, seldom paying attention to the lower level. This research analyzed and compared the outcomes and equity implications of the rural resettlement policy under different governing modes in Tianjin, where the policy has been conducted on a large scale over a ten-year period. Case studies of seven rural resettlement projects in Tianjin were conducted, mainly using qualitative methods. Different governance modes in the implementation process were explored and categorized according to the network governance concept. Based on the data from a questionnaire survey, interviews and field observation, the outcomes and equity implications of this policy were assessed and evaluated. Working definitions of governance and urban-rural equity were also developed. This study revealed that the underlying objective of the rural resettlement policy was to transfer the rural land ownership from collective-owned to state-owned, though the overt objective is to improve the livelihood of the rural people. Furthermore, the rural communities were differentiated in accordance with their economic conditions. The district and town governments were given autonomy to deal with such complex situations. The competency and the expectations of the stakeholders in the process of project implementation were found to be essential in the formation of the three governance modes. In terms of policy performance, the effectiveness of the re-drawing of land rights was greatly influenced by local economic conditions; the fact that distribution of the compensation was more determined by the governance modes; and that, without considering the characteristics of the rural people, the development of the living environment could not be recognized as efficient. Furthermore, the objective of reshaping the rural people’s economic activities was frustrated by insufficient professional training for the resettled rural laborers. In terms of the policy implications on urban-rural equity, the wellbeing of resettled households, though improved in the aspect of public facility provision, social welfare provision for them was still considered deficient. Furthermore, the rural people’s perceptions of improvement in their lives were found closely related to their general satisfaction with the policy. Therefore, the implementation of the rural resettlement policy in Tianjin has contributed to the clarification of the rural land rights system and improvement of the living standards of rural residents to some extent. However, its efforts were impaired when it failed to consider fully the local conditions and the requirements of the rural communities. Thus, further clarification of the policy objectives and the implementation process open to public consultation are considered essential factors for further improvement. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Chinese Historical Studies / Master / Master of Arts

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 275-295).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-125). Also available in print.

A precious resource and public asset, the urban waterfront is crucial to shaping the city image. It also contributes to quality of life of the city’s inhabitants and visitors. However, many waterfront landscapes are only superficially pleasant; some of these lack other significant qualities needed by the public. Designers and end-users may have different notions on waterfront qualities, and communication gaps possibly exist between the two groups. Designers might formulate objectives and ideas on waterfront qualities without adequately understanding the true needs and preferences of users, which encompass aspects deeper than merely visual features. This means that perceptions on certain “latent” waterfront attributes need to be studied. The designers should create more human-oriented waterfront landscapes by gaining a better understanding of real user needs. Public perceptions regarding waterfront landscape and the key aspects associated with those perceptions should be studied. Therefore, the main objective of the present research is to explore an alternative approach to waterfront design through the eyes of users. Tianjin Haihe riverfront was selected for a case study, which consisted of two stages. First, a contextual study included a historical review of the interactive relationship between the city and river. The major forces driving recent redevelopments, including economic, social, environmental, and cultural ones, were identified. Then, the comprehensive master plan and major achievements were critically reviewed. Second, a field study was conducted on October 2009, during which four important aspects of the urban waterfront were specifically examined. These aspects were access, use, comfort, and image. First-hand empirical data were collected using a combined approach involving observation, attitude survey, cognitive mapping, and photo simulation. In all, 110 on-site and 60 off-site completed questionnaires were obtained. Data were analysed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. In general, majority of the respondents were satisfied with the updated waterfront environment. Significant changes were perceived and appreciated. However, the current landscape is not yet ideal. The riverfront is more accessible but lacks vitality: it is simply a “passing by” space rather than a vibrant destination. Successful features (and unsuccessful issues), related to the four key aspects of access, use, comfort, and image were addressed. Correlations between certain design features and emotional reactions were explored. Fiver factors concerning visual perceptions of waterfront landscape were explored: preference, complexity, style, greenery, and openness. Patterns of perceptions among three groups of observers (i.e., local non-professionals, local professionals, and non-local professionals) were found, based on their familiarity with the site and professional background. Local non-professionals seemed more generous in their perceptions. A tendency to over-praise the waterfront settings was apparent. However, they were not as sensitive to aesthetic issues. Non-locals professionals seemed more critical, perhaps leading them to underestimate the waterfront landscape. With the resultant patterns of perception regarding the waterfront landscape, the present study can help obtain a better understanding of the gap between professionals and the general public. Hence, the means to narrow this gap may be found. The special context of Tianjin provides a relevant reference for other mainland Chinese waterfront cities. The methodology provides a flexible framework as well as useful techniques which can further develop research in other fields. Moreover, waterfront design criteria were developed in this work. Recommendations and potential issues related to current and future urban waterfront design were also discussed. / published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 203-214).

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Master / Master of Philosophy

Tianjin s’est avérée un lieu de rencontres et d’échanges entre les Chinois et les étrangers pendant plus de 150 ans. Face au risque d’effondrement du pays, les pionniers chinois au tournant du XXe siècle ont lancé les premières tentatives de modernisation à Tianjin pour devenir autonomes en termes industriels et techniques et rétablir l’image de la Chine dans l’arène internationale. Aujourd’hui, confrontée à la crise de perte d’identité, la municipalité de Tianjin cherche activement à sauvegarder son patrimoine lié au passé et significatif pour le futur. À travers une étude sur l’électrification de Tianjin et sur la conservation de ses vestiges, cette thèse montre qu’il existe un point commun à ces deux actions à deux époques différentes : l’apprentissage de connaissances modernes auprès de l’Occident et leur appropriation en Chine qui donne la force à cet ancien pays pour rajeunir. Nous allons démontrer que l’électrification de Tianjin était un témoin important de l’autonomie acquise allant du contrôle absolu par les étrangers à la gestion réussie par les Chinois. La mondialisation au XIXe et XXe siècles nous offre un axe pour décrypter les actions des compagnies d’électricité étrangères pour pénétrer le marché chinois. Nous étudierons les conflits entre la technicité de l’électrification – extension du réseau – et le démembrement de la ville pendant la domination des entrepreneurs et administrateurs européens. Nous traiterons ensuite de l’intégration progressive et de la gestion systématique du réseau électrique sous le monopole étatique chinois après la fin de l’impérialisme en Chine. / Tianjin has been such a place where Chinese and the foreigners met each other and exchanged frequently for over 150 years. Facing the risk of a dissembling country, the Chinese pioneers led the modernization at the dawn of the 20th century in order to achieve industrial et technical autonomy and to recover China’s image on the international arena. Today, confronted to the crisis of identity lost, the municipality of Tianjin strives to protect its own heritage, inherited from the past and is significant for the future. Based on a study of the history of electrification and of the conservation of the vestiges, this dissertation shows the common point between these two actions in two periods: to learn modern knowledge from the western world and apply it to China. This application gives China the full energy to rejuvenate. We are going to demonstrate that electrification was an important witness of the Chinese regain of autonomy in the technical perspective. They turned from staying under foreigners’ control to succeeding in its effective management. The globalization in the 19th and 20th centuries appears a path to decipher the actions taken by the foreign electric firms to penetrate the Chinese market. We will study the conflicts between the technical requirement of electricity, which is the network extension, and the separation of the electric service in the city under the domination of European administrators and entrepreneurs. We will further the integration of these separate networks and their systematic management under the state monopoly after imperialism ended in China. The urgent task of industrial brownfields conservation and their transformation into hubs for creative activities raise an issue for us to look into the effectiveness of the legal framework of heritage protection, which was introduced one century ago and has been improved all the time. Based on the politics of Tianjin for heritage, we will explore the possibilities and sound ways of enhancing the value of its old electric network.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy