Analysis of Power and Privilege
Who has the power to dictate the distribution of urban green space in Beijing?
Who holds the privilege of accessing urban green space in Beijing?
If access to urban green space provides environmental benefits, the next question should focus on who has access to these space. Let’s first consider marginalized social identities in China’s cities…
China’s Socioeconomic Structure
In China’s socioeconomic structure, income is a defining variable for marginalized individuals and groups. Social segregation is dictated by income differences because population of China’s cities is largely monoracial (Zhao, 2013). There are 3 main disadvantaged groups:
- Low income
- Rural migrant
- Workers laid-off by state-owned enterprises (Zhao, 2013)
Privilege
Access to urban green spaces, regardless of their quality, is largely based on class variables. In cities, there is a disproportionate distribution of green spaces where those with higher income, living in wealthier parts of the city have a higher percentage of green spaces near them than those in poorer neighborhoods (Zhao, 2013).
Approximately 68% of city residents can access a moderate level of green space (Yao et al., 2014).
Privileged social groups in Beijing capitalize on green space access. Access to Beijing’s urban green space includes protection from types of ecological harm that disadvantaged groups face daily.
Power
Beijing urban planners hold the power of dictating who can access urban green spaces. Urban planning is a powerful tool to fix uneven green space distribution. There are potential obstacles with the creation of new urban green spaces. If an aesthetically unpleasing low income area is ‘beautified’ with greenery, people of high income are more attracted to properties in this area, and occasionally push out those with less financial benefits. Those who need green spaces could still end up not being granted access (Wolcha et al., 2014).
Citations
Wolch, J. R., Byrne, J., & Newell, J. P. (2014). Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities ‘just green enough’. Landscape and Urban Planning, 125, 234-244. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.01.017
Yao, L., Liu, J., Wang, R., Yin, K., & Han, B. (2014). Effective green equivalent—a measure of public green spaces for cities. Ecological Indicators, 47, 123-127. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.07.009
Zhang, B., Xie, G., Zhang, C., & Zhang, J. (2012). The economic benefits of rainwater-runoff reduction by urban green spaces: A case study in Beijing, China. Journal of environmental management, 100, 65-71. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.01.015
Zhao, P. (2013). The impact of urban sprawl on social segregation in Beijing and a limited role for spatial planning. Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie, 104(5), 571-587. doi: 10.1111/tesg.12030
Image Citations
Daderot (Photographer). (2011, August 9). Green Lake Park. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Daderot/gallery-before-2001-09-01
Russavia (Author). (2007, January 18). Warm Winter. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Warm_winter_(370610428).jpg
Diego Delso (Photographer). (2006, February 18). Beijing, China. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pekin-Beijing-China1376.JPG
Rosemania (Author). (2012, February 29). Changchun Plan. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Changchun_1932_-_Plan_2.jpg