China's urbanization in the context of differential urbanization theory: 1949-1992.

摘要

This dissertation clarifies the confusion in China's urban population definition, reevaluates China's urbanization level, and models China's urbanization process since 1950 in the context of Differential Urbanization (DU) theory. It is the first research that generaiizes the whole process of China's urbanization in the theoretical frame of DU and as an application to test the validity of DU in the use of a developing country, in this case, P. R. China, and summarizes the feasibility and disadvantages of its use in China.;China's urbanization process since 1949 has been divided into nine different stages according to DU theory. Contrary to many previous conclusions, the period of 1971-1976 is labeled as an intermediate city stage instead of a counterurbanization one. The distortion of the normal urbanization process resulting from governmental policies, particularly the household registration system (HRS), and/or political incidents in each stage of urbanization is discussed. The concept of primacy is introduced to further explain urbanization differentiation over time. Different regions in China are associated with varieties of differential urbanization stages owing to the great variance in social and economic development levels.;A projected normal urban development model was built for comparison and the issue of floating population and urban agricultural population is addressed with respect to urban population definitions. In addition, this research predicts the future urbanization trend of China based on economic factors as well as the analytical framework of DU theory.;The problems in urban places as well as the pressure of a rural labor surplus are discussed so as to state the current urban situation and to estimate the urban future of China. The main conclusion of this research is that China has been in an induced polarization reversal stage most of the time since the early 1950s and will be in an intermediate city stage for many years in the future. China is phasing out of a politics-controlled urbanization process. Its rural-urban migration pressure is at its climax now, and will be easing off in about two decades. China will enter a stable, smooth intermediate and small city stage in the near future.;All policies associated with urbanization, including the household registration system, are listed chronologically and discussed with respect to city development or decline. The early 1980s is regarded as a watershed in the modern urbanization history of China due to the great change in city and town designation policy in favor of urbanization, also as the beginning of a confused urban population definition period regarding a high percentage of agricultural population within the city boundaries.