Dual Center-Periphery Spatial Structure:A Theoretical Construction Of The Current Urban-Rural Structural Relation

Faced with the situation of a large number of migrant workers flowing into cities since the 1990s,Lewis’s classic theory of urban-rural dual structure has long been considered to be unable to provide practical and effective explanations for China’s urban-rural structural relation,especially the current situation.Among all theories based on the new pattern of urban-rural structural relation since the reform seeking to surpass the dual structure theory,few clearly define the urban-rural structure as a social spatial structure.Therefore,this paper attempts to study this issue with the theory of social space.This urban-rural spatial structure is characterized by a central-peripheral situation,that is,the central region controls,extracts,and squeezes marginal regions,while the marginal regions subordinate to and depend on the central region.The dual-nested structure formed between the urban and rural areas and between the central and peripheral urban areas is referred to as the "dual center-periphery spatial structure".The urban-rural structural relation during the period of the planned economy is a single center-periphery spatial structure.The development of the industrialization of the city recklessly squeezed the countryside,leading to a horrible historical tragedy.After the reform,throughout the rise and fall of township enterprises and the tide of migrant workers,the single center-periphery spatial structure during the planned economy gradually dissolved,and the urban internal spatial structure began to differentiate.The dual center-periphery spatial structure gradually evolved.Next,based on the methodological analysis of deducing the theoretical model with a specific case,the author analyzed the producing logic of the dual center-periphery spatial structure by taking Chongqing as the case with the method of field research.The experience from the case tells us that the urban peripheral areas where a large number of rural migrants live in are precisely the kind of rural space that is reproduced within the city.The consequence of this is that rural areas are further peripherized(hollowed)as periphery areas.In cities,with land acquisition and demolition as a technique of space reorganization,the central areas of the city expand,and at the same time,the migrants originally living in the areas are expelled to more peripheral areas.Behind this technique is the so-called "land finance" based on the special land system in China.Local governments control all land and obtain huge profit through land sales.This situation makes the spatial production of Chinese cities unique.Unlike the beleaguered logic of capital in the West,the process of China mainly follows the logic of power.Finally,this paper analyzes the outlook of the urban-rural structural relation.It is believed that only in the way of struggling for the "rights to the city" and changing unreasonable urban planning ways within the realm of legality,and gradually establishing an equal and just urban-rural spatial structure can the urban-rural structural relation develop in a sustainable manner.The author finally reflects on some limits in this study.