Articles

Invisible tenants in urban village redevelopment: Case studies from Shenzhen Megacity, China

Authors

• • Chunhong Sheng Chunhong Sheng ORCID profile. (opens in new tab)
  • School of International Relations and Public Affairs
  • Shanghai International Studies University View ROR record for Shanghai International Studies University. (opens in new tab)
• • Ke Song Ke Song ORCID profile. (opens in new tab)
  • Harbin Institute of Technology View ROR record for Harbin Institute of Technology. (opens in new tab)
• • Jinlong Liu liujinlong@ruc.edu.cn Email Jinlong Liu. (compose email, opens in email app.) Jinlong Liu ORCID profile. (opens in new tab)
  • School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development
  • Renmin University of China View ROR record for Renmin University of China. (opens in new tab)

Abstract

China's urban development is undergoing a critical transition from expansion to redevelopment. Justice is an important issue during urban redevelopment, particularly for millions of tenants in informal settlements megacities. Using critical political ecology we investigated tenants' "rights to the city" through fieldwork, interviews, and observation in two urban village renewal projects in Shenzhen. The tenant's rights to the city has some consideration, but a "government-developer-land owner (villager)" growth coalition was more dominant during the redevelopment of urban villages. The redevelopment process caused injustices and reduced the resilience of urban village communities. The tenants lost access to affordable accommodation, small businesses, job opportunities, and public goods and facilities, while the minority growth coalition captured the economic, political, and environmental benefits of the urban village revival projects. It is critical to protect tenants' rights in the revival of informal settlements, to insure a more inclusive and fair redevelopment process.

Keywords: Political ecology, Justice, Urban village revival, Tenants, Shenzhen

How to Cite: Sheng, C. , Song, K. & Liu, J. (2025) “Invisible tenants in urban village redevelopment: Case studies from Shenzhen Megacity, China”, Journal of Political Ecology. 32(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.2458/jpe.6172