For many Shanghai fits into the category of an international cosmopolis. However abiding by strict definition of Saskia Sassen's concept of the “global city”, Shanghai still has a long way to go. The economic reforms of 1978 allowed Shanghai to grow and regain its significance as a major coastal city with links to different parts of the world. Yet, it is still not a “global city” with world wide economic, cultural and symbolic roles. This is to say that it is not on par with the favored few megacities of the world - New York, London and Tokyo.
Historically speaking Shanghai has always been an important city with numerous international ties. Known as the “Paris of the Orient” Shanghai became a treaty port in 1842 as a result of the Treaty of Nanking. The period between 1842 – 1949 was a period in which Shanghai developed its industry as well as service sectors and foreign capital flourished in the city. These trends were reversed after 1949, when China adopted an isolationist policy and all international ties were broken.
After 1948, Shanghai moved from being a trading city to a production oriented city. Under the policy of socialist industrialization, the city developed its industrial production capacity, including heavy industries. Thus even during this period Shanghai was a city of immense significance at a national level. This was the main reason why Shanghai was not targeted during the first round of globalization of China. However by the 1990, the state recognized the need to open up Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta. In 1990, the state announced plans to create the Pudong New Area (which today is the financial centre of the city). Thus with this began the re-globalization of Shanghai. Shanghai today is a strategic “creation” that not only fosters the domestic economy, but an important channel through which China engages in globalization.
Given that Shanghai's re-globalization is recent, it is not surprising to hear on how much Shanghai has changed over the past one decade. Shanghai is the host for the World Expo 2010. Preparations for the fair are well under way in the city under the slogan, “ Better City, Better Life”. There is no doubt that this event next year is an important event for Shanghai.
Being in Shanghai, my blog posts will look at the local effects of globalization in Shanghai. How has globalization transformed the city land scape? What kind of urban restructuring has taken place and what are the effects of this on the Shanghainese people? What are effects of globalization on the everyday lives of the local people? What are the local views on these transformations? What are the effects of the upcoming Expo on the city?
... written by Adriana Cordero Calderon , November 01, 2009
Khadee!
I'm looking forward to your views and appreciations of Shangai. My first impressions of China were from a rural community (more especifically, the Yao tribe on the south), and I am curious about what your impressions of China are, in general, having that reverse process.
What I find most fascinating about so-called "global cities" is that they end up being a world in its own: from the people that live there, the kind of relationships they develop, and the kinds of activities they get involved in. For example, does Shangai even deserve being called "chinese"? That's something interesting to question over the rest of your stay over there.
Out of curiosity: as part of a Study Abroad program, do you think it is more beneficial for the participant to be in a "worldy" city, or to be immersed in a smaller and more authentic community?
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... written by Khadeeja Hamid , October 31, 2009
Jana, unfortunately I haven't actually traveled anywhere in China which would be considered to be "rural". But I do know and also understand what you are talking about. In fact, my first few weeks here I was rather confused as China ( or rather Shanghai) was very different from what I expected it to be and I saw my self making the mistake of generalizing what I saw in Shanghai to the rest of China. But as you mentioned, I am sure that the rest of China, especially rural China is very different from Shanghai.
I am not sure whether I will be traveling to any rural parts of China. But I will be traveling to other cities in China and I think it will be interesting to see how Shanghai and the processes of urbanization is different in Shanghai than that of other cities in China.
I have spoken to some of my Chinese friends. True. A lot of them are reluctant to speak out about issues, but even when they do they tend to gloss over things. Young people are rather patriotic. This in itself is an interesting phenomenon, especially in the context of a place like Shanghai.
I will try my best to include first hand opinions and perspectives of local people on these issues.
Steve, looking at the globalization of Shanghai during the eighteenth and the nineteenth century, and making a comparison with how things are done today will be rather interesting. I will try to do a bit of that as well, however the majority of my blog posts will be focused on the globalization of Shanghai during the past decade, the situation now and also the up coming Expo.
I know that you are blogging about urban poverty. One of the things that surprises me about Shanghai is that during my time here so far I haven't seen many of what would be considered to be the "urban poor" (especially for a city in a developing nation). Any comments??
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... written by Steve Peraza , October 30, 2009
Wow. I can't wrap my mind around the initial question: What exactly is a global city? Then to ask whether or not Shanghai fits this mold...Fascinating stuff.
Unfortunately I know very little about cities outside the "West." Still I'm familiar with the literature of port cities in the Atlantic world between the sixteenth and twentieth centuries. Your focus seems to be the twentieth century, but I hope you offer more on the eighteenth- and nineteenth century foundations upon which this globality of Shanghai is built.
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... written by Jana , October 30, 2009
Khadeeja,
I do not know if you have traveled to any of the rural areas around China, but I am sure once you do you will see quite the dichotomy of the developed, western-oriented Shanghai vs. the condition of most people living in China in the rural areas.
I wonder, have you spoken with any of the Chinese citizens there about their feelings regarding Globalization? Or perhaps about politics? It would be quite interesting to get some first-hand opinions. I remember, when I was there, asking my speaking partners and teachers about politics in Shanghai and I was faced with a lot of silence and discomfort. This lead me to believe that, despite the show of the Chinese government, China is still not quite as 'progressive' a place as they would like to put out there.
