Study On The Urban Integration Of Rural Floating Population In China From The Perspective Of Cultural Capital

This paper examines how cultural capital affects rural migrants.By exploring this effect,this paper has further sorted out the pathways and strategies for rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods(transforming into urban citizens),and provided theoretical and policy bases on how cultural capital affects rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods.From a theoretical perspective,this paper focuses on the effect of cultural capital on rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods and examines the conversion of cultural capital into economic capital and social capital.From a practical perspective,this paper has analyzed the associations between the different manifestations of cultural capital of rural migrants and such four aspects of rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods as economic integration,social integration,psychological integration and identity integration.With the analysis on these associations,this paper explores the possibilities of establishing an evaluation system on the relationship between cultural capital and rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods as well as establishing the categorization of cultural capital based on cultural capability,cultural consciousness and participation in cultural activities.In addition,this paper attempts to explain how it happens and operates.From a policy perspective,this paper delves into the potential positive role that cultural capital could play in rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods and provides ways for the enhancement of cultural capital and builds new models for promoting rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods based on the growing self-discipline of rural migrants and policy supports as well as non-governmental organizations.This paper also aims at facilitating rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods through improving cultural capital accumulation of rural migrants and continuously getting closer to the goal of cultural empowerment for all in a society featuring well-rounded development.Split into five sections,this paper proceeds as follows:In section one,through introduction and literature review,it explains the background of the study and relevant research interests as well as elucidates practical significance and theoretical value of this research.A technology roadmap and research framework of the research approach of this paper will be outlined.Lastly,this paper will explain the underlying contributions generated by the study on how cultural capital affects rural migrants in terms of urbanization.In the meantime,it will define concepts related to this research and carry out literature review on the basis of this research and researches on the influences of cultural capital and influences on rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods as well as the role that cultural capital plays in rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods.On the one hand,both contributions and downsides of published article documents will be discussed.On the other hand,the subject and goal of the research will be refined and explored.Section two examines the study of the indicator system for cultural capital of rural migrants and rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods.On the basis of summarizing the categorization of cultural capital of different social groups set by relevant scholars at home and abroad and the constellation of indexes,this section proposes relevant measurable indicators and evaluation systems for cultural capital of rural migrants.It consists of three first-level indicators,namely,cultural capability and cultural consciousness and participation in cultural activities.In addition,relevant second-level and third-level indicators that are derived from the first-level indicators will be established on the basis of the current specific status of rural migrants.Lastly,it develops an indicator system that is measurable for cultural capital of rural migrants.On the basis of published article documents of relevant scholars on indicator systems of immigrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods in other countries and rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods,this section aims at proposing a fourfold indicator system for rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods,which consists of such four first-level indicators as economic integration,social integration,psychological integration and identity integration.Furthermore,relevant second-level indicators that are derived from the first-level indicators will be established in accordance with the current national conditions so as to develop a measurable indicator system.Section three concentrates specifically on the theoretical framework of how cultural capital influences rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods and the relevant mechanism analysis.On the basis of the understanding of cultural capital distinguished by Pierre Bourdieu and the theory of all-round development of individuals by Karl Marx,it combines Amartya Sen's capability approach with comprehensive theories of social integration in the western world including theories in sociology,demography and economics to jointly build a theory framework.As the accumulation of cultural capital of rural migrants continues,it is necessary to keep improving the conversion efficiency of cultural capital into economic and social capital.This section points out the independent accumulation and transmission and reproduction of cultural capital of rural migrants play a positive role in rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods.In the meantime,this section also examines how the three aspects of cultural capital,namely,cultural capability and cultural consciousness and participation in cultural activities affect the four key evaluation indicators of rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods including economic integration,social integration,psychological integration and identity integration.Through the analysis on the associations between the three aspects of cultural capital and the four key evaluation indicators of rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods,it gives rise to primary purposes of this research— how does cultural capital affect rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods? What kind of roles do the three aspects of cultural capital play in rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods? Do the three aspects of cultural capital exert same influences on rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods?Section four mainly deals with the empirical analysis.Firstly,a descriptive statistics method is employed to analyze the current situation on rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods in Chengdu— the cultural center of western China with leading competitive advantages in cultural industry that boosts both rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods and employment as well as living standards of migrant workers.Secondly,through the data of China Migrants Dynamic Survey(2013-2017),this section uses a descriptive statistics analysis to describe the current situation of migrant workers' incorporation into Chengdu and throw some light on migrant workers'(a representative group of rural migrants)incorporation into urban neighbourhoods in terms of demographic features and current features of rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods.In the meantime,on the basis of the survey sampling of migrant workers in Chengdu,we attempt to test the effects of cultural capital on rural migrants through the quantitative research and explain as well as summarize new problems that prop up during the survey sampling so as to pave the way for future research and reveal possible research directions in this field.As for the expansion of this study,on the basis of empirical studies on how cultural capital affects rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods,this paper formulates relevant specific hypotheses on mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of cultural capital among rural migrants and tests the hypotheses with empirical evidence.In addition,this paper also attempts to clarify whether there is a marked intergenerational transmission of cultural capital among rural migrants and whether intergenerational transmission of cultural capital plays a significant role in rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods and study what might be the carrier of the intergenerational transmission of cultural capital.Section five focuses on summarizing the entire study and put forward pathways for rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods by cultural capital and provides the future prospects and the blueprint for cultural capital of rural migrants.In terms of innovations and downsides,this paper has the following highlights for innovations:Firstly,the expansion of theoretical directionThis paper expands the theoretical direction of the influences on rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods from the following aspects.To begin with,this paper expands the theoretical direction of influencing factors on rural migrants from conventional economic capital,social capital or human capital to cultural capital.Although previous scholars have already discussed this issue from the perspective of cultural capital,they never seem progress beyond the rudiments and their understanding of cultural capital of rural migrants is mainly based on categorization of cultural capital in a traditional western way,which is somewhat detached from the social situation in China.Secondly,on the basis of China's national conditions,this paper links the problem of rural migrants' incomplete incorporation into urban neighbourhoods with capital accumulation.Having employed the dialectical method to explore the conversion of cultural capital into economic capital and social capital,this paper summarizes the core of cultural capital of China's rural migrants which is based on the concept of cultural capital distinguished by Bourdieu and expands on the basis of the current national conditions.On the basis of Bourdieu's theory of power and practice,this paper combines the concept of field and habitus with the theory of cultural capital,concentrating efforts on addressing the problems of insufficient capability approach of rural migrants and possible exclusion and discrimination against rural migrants from the urban social structure.This paper develops a theoretical framework for how the accumulation,transmission and reproduction of cultural capital of rural migrants surmount hurdles in rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods.Finally,as for the expansion of study on Intergenerational transmission of cultural capital of rural migrants,this paper combines the theory of cultural capital with the theory of Intergenerational transmission.By exploring whether cultural capital has a relevant impact on the inheritance of cultural capital and on rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods in terms of the Intergenerational transmission,this study extends the intergenerational transmission of cultural capital from the field of traditional school and family education to the field of social practice so as to analyze the potential influencing factors of intergenerational transmission of cultural capital of rural migrants as well as the transmission mechanism of inheritance of cultural capital for the offspring of rural migrants.Secondly,the expansion of the theoretical directionThis study expands the theoretical depth of what might affect rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods by three criteria: the clear definition of concepts,the proper construction of a theoretical framework and the establishment of the indicator system.This study has provided a definition of cultural capital of rural migrants in light with the Chinese national conditions.This definition establishes types of cultural capital of rural migrants in China's urban society so as to examine the actual process of how cultural capital affects rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods.This study also contrasts the concept of social integration with the concept of rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods to clarify that the essence of contemporary Chinese rural migrants' incorporation in urban society mainly lies in rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods and there are marked differences in terms of the process,direction,degree and categorization standards of incorporation.In addition,this study analyses the concept of rural migrants and the concept of migrant workers.On the basis of the different criteria set by scholars for the two concepts,this study clarifies affiliations and main differences between the two concepts,laying the logic foundation for analyzing and evaluating migrant workers— a representative group of rural migrants.With regard to structuring a theoretical framework,the theoretical framework for the effect of cultural capital on rural migrants has been scarcely approached by the existing literature.As previous studies mainly approached the theoretical framework of rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods mostly from economic capital,social capital and human capital,it is no doubt that there is a lack of accumulation of previous results for constructing the theoretical framework of this issue.Therefore,it eventually boils down to a question of theoretical innovation in research.Furthermore,in the theoretical framework for the effect of cultural capital on rural migrants,this study takes into account the characteristics of social structure and social practice.On the basis of following the lives of subjects of this study and pondering on how China has evolved in terms of history and society and touching upon the features of intergenerational transmission of cultural capital against the background of the blend of Chinese traditional culture and modern culture.Therefore,after setting the theoretical framework for measuring cultural capital of Chinese rural migrants and the theoretical framework for measuring rural migrants' full incorporation into urban neighbourhoods,the theoretical framework of the effect of cultural capital on rural migrants' full incorporation into urban neighbourhoods,this study writes a literature review of the transmission characteristics of the effect of cultural capital on rural migrants' full incorporation into urban neighbourhoods based on the theory of intergenerational transmission so as to produce the research outcome for the theoretical framework of cultural capital of rural migrants and outcome for pathways for rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods.Thirdly,the expansion and innovation of field practiceDuring interviews with rural migrants,this study through field inspection,face-to-face interviews and questionnaires,has delved into real conditions of cultural capital of rural migrants and collects the first-hand data with the method of field research on the basis of approaching the cultural attitude and cultural consciousness and nostalgia for the old home as well as folk beliefs of rural migrants.This paper accumulates first-hand materials for further study of this group on the basis of the survey on rural migrants featuring different social classes,occupations and age groups.Fourthly,the innovation in researchAs for empirical analysis of this paper,the analytic hierarchy process is employed.The weight of indicators of different levels is set through the Delphi method.Through normalization,the comprehensive indexes of cultural capital are employed to analyze the four first-level indicators of how cultural capital affects rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods.Finally,this paper reaches an empirical conclusion on the effect of cultural capital on rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods.The downsides of this study mainly lie in the following four aspects:First of all,literature review remains to be improved.As Pierre Bourdieu was a prolific writer and most of his works are written in French and not introduced into China,it is inevitable that there might be some theoretical absence and insufficient updating in terms of sorting out the influence of Bourdieu's cultural capital.Secondly,the survey data of this paper is far from being adequate.Although this study has used the data of China Migrants Dynamic Survey(2013-2017)to analyse Chengdu's migrant workers' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods,a lot of work remains to be done in terms of continuously following the overall development of migrant workers in Chengdu due to a shortage of questionnaires and of subjects and inadequate coverage of Chengdu migrant workers.Thirdly,this paper is lacking in comparisons between Chengdu and other regions of China.When sampling the effect of cultural capital on rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods featuring migrant workers in Chengdu,this paper fails to take into account cultural differences,economic differences and urban life differences between Chengdu and other regions of China.As this paper judges the efficiency of migrant workers' incorporation into Chengdu solely based on the summary of relevant researches done by other scholars,it largely undermines the authenticity of regarding Chengdu as a sample for rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods.Lastly,this paper fails to fully dissect the application of the targeted government policy.Although this paper has constructed the theoretical framework of pathways for rural migrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods by cultural capital,there is a lack of a systematic summary of China's current policy on public culture and comparisons with policies of immigrants' incorporation into urban neighbourhoods in developed countries.To a great extent,these shortages weaken the interpretation and operationalization of the targeted policy.