Knowledge-based urban development in China

Abstract

This Thesis starts with a conceptual exploration of broad disciplines related to the emerging field of Knowledge-Based Urban Development (KBUD) , upon which it developed understanding of the holistic meaning of KBUD. It argues that the need for knowledge for KBUD should include all types of knowledge - the wisdom - and that KBUD, in particular knowledge city, is to enhance urban social, economic, cultural, and environmental sustainability in a balanced manner. The fundamental of knowledge city lies on its justice and inclusion, which is developed equally for all. Building upon the theoretical arguments it made, this research developed an analytical framework for analysing knowledge city. By applying the framework to both international KBUD initiatives and the Chinese case studies, it found that although there seems to be a general trend that suggests that the cities in developed countries have comparative advantages in transforming into knowledge city, the state of development is by no means the determining condition for a city to develop towards KBUD. Rather, the making of knowledge city relies on the ability to engage people of the whole community to establish an efficient institutional mechanism and develop an appropriate policy framework, which encourages and facilitates the creation of a cohesive knowledge environment, especially upgrading the city's knowledge base and fostering a cohering knowledge culture, to mobilise and apply all types of knowledge to serve and rule urban development behaviour so that it corresponds fully to the needs of enhancing the city's social, economic, cultural, and environmental sustainability. The empirical evidence from the Chinese case studies also suggests that the very recent change of China's development ideology, which calls for the development of a "harmonious society" following the "scientific development concept" approach, is meaningful, from the KBUD perspective, only if they are conducive to making connection with and adopted for coordinating localised knowledge creation, transmission and utilisation, which are regulated for the great collective interests, in other words, for people of the whole community, for social equity and inclusion. This thesis ends with offering some recommendations both for China's urban development policy and directions of future research.