Research On The Path Of Characteristic Urbanization In Xinjiang

Xinjiang is located in the northwestern border of China, which is an important strategic base of energy resources, an important gateway of China's opening up to the western countries, and China's security shield of the northwestern frontiers. Bordering on eight countries, Xinjiang is located in the hinterland of Eurasia, with such cultural and geographic features as multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural, multi-ecological coexistence, as well as a lot of resources and systems. Urbanization in Xinjiang is not only an important channel to transfer surplus rural laborers and realize economic agglomeration, but also an effective way to protect the fragile ecological environment of the oasis and promote national integration and social stability. Because of the special cultural and geographic features, the special functions of urbanization, and the special external environment of Xinjiang, the path to urbanization in Xinjiang is different from that in the mainland.It is necessary for Xinjiang to select a different path to urbanization with Xinjiang characteristics.The basic target of the urbanization with Xinjiang characteristics is the harmony among economic development, ecological security and social stability. It has great significance to explore the path to urbanization with characteristics in the different regions in Xinjiang under this goal. With this as the starting point of the research, this article has the following structures:Firstly, the definition of the conceptions and the theoretical basis. It analyzes the conception of urbanization, elaborates content of the paths of urbanization, defines the concept of border security, which includes economic development, ecological security and social stability, and discusses the theoretical basis to pave the way for the paper. Secondly,the particularity of the path to urbanization in Xinjiang. Based on the analysis of the development tracks and evolution characteristics of urbanization in Xinjiang and its internal and external environments, the paper points out the particularity of urbanization in Xinjiang, and proposes the connotation and functions of urbanization in Xinjiang. The third,the basic evaluation of urbanization in Xinjiang. It grasps the reality-base of the development of urbanization in Xinjiang, and assesses it from its economic performance, ecological performance, and social performance. It also points out the problems and shortcomings in the process of urbanization in Xinjiang, and rethinks the path of urbanization. The fourth, the driving force and the braking force of urbanization in Xinjiang. It analyzes the driving force from such five aspects as the basic conditions, the pulling power of industrial development, the trigger force of export-oriented economy, the regulating force of government's policies, the main driving force of active behaviors. Then it analyzes the braking force of urbanization in Xinjiang from the aspects of different constraints, such as that of backward development, that of ecological environment, and that of cultural and social conditions. At last it points out how to coordinate the driving force and braking force and the development path of urbanization in Xinjiang.The fifth, comparison between the different paths of urbanization at home and abroad. It compares and analyzes the following foreign urbanization paths, such as the United States' urbanization, the UK's urbanization, the urbanization in Germany, the Israeli urbanization, and also the Latin American countries' urbanization. It also focuses on some urbanization paths at home, such as the urbanization in Southern Jiangsu Province, the urbanization in the Pearl River Delta, the urbanization in Zhangjiajie, the urbanization in Daqing, and also the urbanization in southern Ningxia. By comparison, this chapter puts forward the inspiration of the path of urbanization at home and abroad for Xinjiang. The sixth,the path selection of urbanization in Xinjiang. From the perspective of economic development, it puts forward the paths of urbanization in Xinjiang, such as the path of center centralization, the path of resource development, the path of border crossings, the tourism-based path,the path of agricultural industrialization. From the perspective of ecological security, it puts forward the path of ecological migration, the path of development limitations. From the perspective of social stability, it puts forward the path of political frontiers, the government-motivated path, the path of XPCC and local integration. Combined with the actual situations of different regions in Xinjiang, it points out how to select the path of urbanization in different regions. The seventh, the supporting measures of urbanization based on different paths in Xinjiang. Based on the different paths of the urbanization in Xinjiang, it points out how to choose the leading industry and how to choose the appropriate policies. From the three perspectives of industrial support, policy support, and institutional innovation, it puts forward the measures that guarantees the healthy development of urbanization in Xinjiang.The main conclusions are as follows:1.Xinjiang's urbanization is unique. The urbanization in Xinjiang is unique in its functions, layout, dynamic mechanism, realizing method, and system background. Thus, it is necessary to select different paths according to different local conditions, to achieve multiple functions of economic development, ecological security and social stability.2. The urbanization in Xinjiang differs in different regions, and the problems of ecological security and social stability have been highlighted in the process. The urbanization level in south Xinjiang is lower than that in north Xinjiang, and that in regions where the minority groups live is lower than that where Hans live. The developments of urbanization in different regions in Xinjiang promote the local economy differently, urbanization threatens the ecological environment, and the problems of social conflicts and national integration become underlying factors affecting social stability.3.The path of urbanization in Xinjiang is the result of the driving forces and the braking forces. How to choose the path of urbanization in different regions mainly depends on local resource endowments, location, environment, economic foundation and government's policies and other factors. In the process of path selection of urbanization, different areas have obviously different situations and different driving forces and braking forces. The dominant driving forces and braking forces will be the key to determine the path of urbanization. The government in the process of urbanization in Xinjiang plays a very important role. The function of ecological security and social stability needs to strengthen the implementation mechanism of government.4.The realizing methods of urbanization in Xinjiang serves the different functions of it. From the perspective of economic development, the paths of urbanization in Xinjiang include the path of center centralization, the path of resource development, the path of border crossings, the tourism-based path, the path of agricultural industrialization. From the perspective of ecological security the paths of urbanization include the path of ecological migration and the path of development limitations. From the perspective of social stability the paths of urbanization include the path of political frontiers, the government-motivated path and the path of XPCC and local integration.5.The path selection of urbanization in Xinjiang is diverse and dynamic, and it must be adapted to local conditions. The major contradictions are different in different regions and different stages, so the paths of urbanization are different. Whether the urbanization's primary purpose is economic development, or ecological security or social stability, it is just a means to achieve urbanization. The paths of urbanization in Xinjiang are not only diverse but also dynamic. A region may have obvious characteristics of the path of urbanization, with the urbanization depending on one major path; it may also choose different paths of urbanization in order to achieve different functions.