Abstract |
During urbanization, urban municipal construction requires expansion of urban space and changes in land use, making demolition and land acquisition unavoidable social problems. Demolition destroys and reshapes natural social environments, and impacts
the lives and productive activities of the people involved. Without proper handling, long-lasting group conflict could ensue. Since 1901, the channel has been cut off six times during expansions of the Tianjin City and Hai-Ho river redevelopment. During these processes, the demolition proceeded without fierce conflict and confrontation. Using data from the Hai-Ho Conservancy Commission archives and additional reporting of Ta Kung Pao, this essay examines 1) the interaction and relationships between the government, agencies, and civilians; 2) equilibrium maintenance between public and private interests; and 3) promotion of infrastructure and urban construction. The research finds that successful demolition work requires an organizer to formulate reasonable guidelines, an implementer to coordinate and compensate the people involved, who, in turn, should fully understand and support the project.
Only when the government serves as an organizer, the relative institutions act as implementers, and the people cooperate does the demolition work to completion successfully. As a successful systematic demolition case in a modern China city, the Hai-Ho curve cut-off case provides a significant example for understanding urban construction today. |