The making and remaking of ecological space in China: the political ecology of Chongming Eco-Island

Xie, Linjun, Flynn, Andrew, Tan-Mullins, May and Cheshmehzangi, Ali (2019) The making and remaking of ecological space in China: the political ecology of Chongming Eco-Island. Political Geography, 69 . pp. 89-102. ISSN 0962-6298 (In Press)

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Abstract

This paper contributes to debates on urban sustainable development through a critical examination of current state-led and Ecological Modernization-guided eco-developments in China. Using Chongming Eco-Island as a case study, we critically evaluate the practices and effects of current Chinese eco-development alongside ecological, economic, and social dimensions. Adopting an alternative analytical approach – political ecology, our analysis brings to the fore a host of stakeholders’ voices and knowledge (especially the often-marginalized grassroots), triangulated with archival research and on-site observation. Our findings show that the Eco-Island development with an Ecological Modernization bias generates unintended and adverse results for the local community and the environment. We argue that political ecology, as both a contesting perspective in sustainable development and as a critical analytical method in understanding society-environment relations, serves as an attractive alternative strategy for those seeking to analyze a more nature-focused, locally-relevant means to promote just planning for urban sustainability.

Item Type: Article
Keywords: Political ecology; Ecological modernization; Eco-development; Urban sustainability; Chongming Eco-Island
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham Ningbo China > Faculty of Science and Engineering > Department of Architecture and Built Environment
University of Nottingham Ningbo China > Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of International Studies
Identification Number: dox:10.1016/j.polgeo.2018.12.012
Depositing User: Zhou, Elsie
Date Deposited: 24 Jan 2019 05:38
Last Modified: 02 Jan 2021 04:30
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/55970

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