Research On Public Participation Of The Planning Events In The Network Society

The development of theory and practice about the democracy and public participation has promoted public participation events,especially in urban planning.The rapid development of information and communication technology has led to the Internet and social media becoming a vital platform for public participation in China.The present research sought to understand the complexity of participation in the network society by taking the cancellation of the number 55 bus route in Shanghai and the number 22 bus route in Guangzhou as the case study.Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used,including semantic analysis,mapping,description,social network analysis,and a nonparametric test for actor-based approach.An analysis of participation patterns led to an understanding of the main characteristics of public participation in the network society,and a statistics analysis of the network revealed the features of elite participants in planning adjustment.A qualitative approach was also used to explore the communication process,which was influenced by the typical Chinese social capital – guanxi.The case study revealed an uneven pattern of public participation in the network society.Then this paper attempts to sum up the general mode and defects of the public participation in the social planning of the network.Through the study of foreign advanced cases,proposed to improve the corresponding strategy recommendations,and suggests ways to enhance fairness and effectiveness in public participation in the network society.