OMG :: Reflections on domicide

Last Wednesday, I spent a nice evening at 'The Center for Cultural Studies on Science and Technology in China' of Technical University (TU) Berlin.

You may have heard that TU is a fine place to take classes in urban planning, mathematics, physics, electronic engineering, architecture, technical innovations and other tech stuff. The main campus, located in the heart of Berlin, is impressive and lively, even at the wee hours.

The Center's main focus is on environmental issues, urban planning and science and technology. And it's current head, Dr. Eva Sternfeld, is a widely known and respected practitioner and academic.

Screenshot of the Center's invitation to the workshop

The workshop itself, co-organized by the small but very active German foundation 'Stadtkultur International e.V.', looked promising to me, given my own academic background. And because one of my all-time favourite (German) experts on contemporary Chinese society and politics was giving an impromptu lecture.

But what was really intriguing me was the lecture and new book of Prof. Dr. Qin Shao (The College of New Jersey, USA). Prof. Shao, a renowned China historian, was invited to present results from her latest research project on urban development in contemporary Shanghai. And she also promoted her new book, fetchingly entitled 'Shanghai Gone: Domicide and Defiance in a Chinese Megacity' (Amazon).

Also present was Prof. Dr. Johannes Küchler, professor emeritus for Theory and History of Land Development at 'The Institute for Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning' as discussant. A group of other academics, some official guests, former colleagues, a few students. And me.

After introductory remarks by Dr. Eva Sternfeld, Prof. Shao was invited to show results from her research in Shanghai's new redevelopment zones. And snippets from her book. Rather desperately trying to defend the use of the highly charged term 'domicide' in the subtitle of her book.

To be honest, when I first heard about the lecture and the book, my immediate reaction was: OMG, do you really mean that? Not only speaking as a German and an academic, I am very uneasy (and more than a little furious) every time somebody uses the term 'genocide' (Völkermord) or derivatives lightly to promote his or her own work. In the context of modern China studies, calling urban planning with all its harsh consequences for local culture and local residents 'domicide' is either careless, arrogant or plain dumb.

Some specialists in the social sciences or humanities instinctively shy away from the hardships of fieldwork. Instead, they prefer to bury themselves in archives, libraries, research institutes or 'think tanks' (in German, these are called 'Denkfabriken'; I never really understood why you have to think in a 'tank' or 'Fabrik'). Well, that is their own decision. But it is not for me. I've done that. Boring, dusty and rather demotivating in the end.

Field trips, trying to find locals who are willing and able to give their own accounts of events, on the other hand, are much more rewarding. Better than working in archives and libraries until you nearly drown in old manuscripts, books, maps and journals. Slowly nurturing allergies of all kinds. But, again, that's only me.

Back to the lecture of Prof. Shao. She vividly described the latest developments in Shanghai's redevelopment zones, talked about the forced eviction of local residents, the demolition of their homes, typical actions and reactions of the local state, land-grabbing developers, public security organs and the media. Showed disturbing slides of a bruised woman who had tried to defend her right to stay where she and her family had lived for a long time.

Everybody familiar with Shanghai and the different waves of urban redevelopment during the last decades might still remember the mega-hype when Xin Tiandi (New World) was planned and finally opened to the public. When I first visited the new hot spot for rich Chinese and foreign expats in 2002, I was mildly shocked. Paulaner Brauhaus, chic boutiques, really expensive restaurants and bars galore. My Chinese friends, however, were proud to show us around this latest addition to Shanghai's glorious future.

Later on, Suzhou Creek and nearly every place around the famous / infamous Bund or bordering Nanjing Donglu and Nanjing Xilu became hip and expensive. For local inhabitants, it was a hard time. They were hit by one wave of gentrification after another. Forced to move out, their homes demolished and removed, and often settled in shiny new apartments in the outskirts of Greater Shanghai. Where nobody really wants to live unless they have enough financial and other resources to enjoy it. When the old quarters in Puxi (West Shanghai) were out, the new financial district Pudong on the opposite side of Huangpu river became in. A seemingly never-ending cycle.

But let me come back to the workshop and the following presentation by Prof. Dr. Bettina Gransow of Freie Universität Berlin. As the second invited guest speaker, she demonstrated how work in the field can be done, too. Listening closely what people have to say and staying back when events could lead to grave political and social repercussions for the locals who are directly involved.

In contrast to Prof. Shao's presentation that was thorough, historically informed and easy to understand, Prof. Gransow focused her lecture mainly on Guangzhou's latest efforts to reinvent itself and urban renewal in Old Town quarters in the outskirts of the metropolis. A really charming video by local activists and artists demonstrated that the Chinese, even the more or less marginalized ones, are not just victims but also outspoken, creative and very persistent protesters.

Unfortunately, time restrictions didn't allow Prof. Gransow and the other participants to discuss the different academic theories, approaches to fieldwork and consequences of ever-changing housing reforms, voluntary and involuntary resettlement and massive dislocation of property and people in depth.