Order And Functions Of Underclass Social Space

China is going through rapid urbanization massively. Urban renewal dominated by government changes urban space structure. By clearing shanty towns and urban villages, urban renewal has unexpected influences on floating population. Based on an one-year fieldwork on floating population engaging in recycling of waste, urban citizens and officers of urban residential committees in a shanty town of Harbin, this dissertation aims to illustrate the significance of shanty town both in the urbanization of urban underclass and in the city development. Meanwhile, this dissertation attempts to rethink the urban planning and urban management. Some suggestions are provided.Firstly, this dissertation analyzes the social construction progress of urban space for underclass from a perspective of Danwei system and urban management. During the Danwei system period, the district was excluded from urban renewal due to limited space and property right dispute. With the disintegration of Danwei system, the district declined. The district was flooded with floating population due to lack of urban management. Floating population get a great opportunity to live in the city on account of social network, a low-cost living quarter, and the existence of informal economy.Secondly, this dissertation illustrates the relationship between urban space for underclass and the city by analyzing the complicated relationship between floating population and urban citizens and the self-organizing social and economy order of floating population. Floating population are socially isolated by institution and urban citizens, while they are economically embedded in society by engaging in informal economy. The urban underclasses living in Fanhua district are related to stigma. But unlike the eikasia of outsiders, Fanhua district is flourishing due to the social ties of floating population and their engagement in recycle economy. In brief, floating population experience both social isolation and economy integration with the city.Thirdly, this dissertation analyzes the definition of floating population and practice of urban policy by using Bauman‘s theory of solid modernity. China constructs a dual structure in urban and rural societies and a steady social or der based on solid-modernity position, which values static, stability, and certainty. The floating population is eager for taking root in the city while they are forced to float in the city by urban policy with solid-modernity position. To make it worse, the urban renewal dominated by government reduces the social space of underclass and eventually causes a dilemma of floating population in floating and taking root.Finally, this dissertation illustrates the functions of social space of urban underclass. Furthermore, this dissertation does a lot of rethinking in modern urban renewal and provides suggestion. Although the social space of urban underclass doesn‘t accord with modern urban planning, the floating population can integrate with city both in daily life and production by living in such compact community. Based on this comprehension of essence and value of social space of urban underclass, this dissertation argues that it can rebirth due to the social ties of floating population and their unshakable needs for arrival city. This dissertation also appeals for an urban planning preferring daily life needs not aesthetic needs. Most importantly, the government is obligatory to meet the needs of space of floating population, respect the informal economy, and empower the floating population with the right to the city.