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Unequal cities of spectacle and mega-events in China

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  • Hyun Shin

Abstract

This paper revisits China's recent experiences of hosting three international mega-events: the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. While maintaining a critical political economic perspective, this paper builds upon the literature of viewing mega-events as societal spectacles and puts forward the proposition that these mega-events in China are promoted to facilitate capital accumulation and ensure socio-political stability for the nation's further accumulation. The rhetoric of a ‘Harmonious Society’ as well as patriotic slogans are used as key languages of spectacles in order to create a sense of unity through the consumption of spectacles, and pacify social and political discontents rising out of economic inequalities, religious and ethnic tensions, and urban–rural divide. The experiences of hosting mega-events, however, have shown that the creation of a ‘unified’, ‘harmonious’ society of spectacle is built on displacing problems rather than solving them.

Suggested Citation

  • Hyun Shin, 2012. "Unequal cities of spectacle and mega-events in China," City, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(6), pages 728-744.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:cityxx:v:16:y:2012:i:6:p:728-744
    DOI: 10.1080/13604813.2012.734076
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    Cited by:

    1. Huei-Fu Lu, 2021. "Hallmark Sporting Events as a Vehicle for Promoting the Sustainable Development of Regional Tourism: Strategic Perspectives from Stakeholders," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Ryanne Flock, 2024. "Creating the spectacular city in everyday life: A governance analysis of urban public space in China," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 61(6), pages 1094-1110, May.
    3. Kong, Dongmin & Shi, Zheng & Xiong, Mengxu, 2024. "Currency overvaluation and export product quality: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    4. Tony Roshan Samara, 2015. "Politics and the social in world-class cities: Building a Shanghai model," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 52(15), pages 2906-2921, November.
    5. Christopher Gaffney, 2013. "Between Discourse and Reality: The Un-Sustainability of Mega-Event Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(9), pages 1-15, September.
    6. Hyun Bang Shin, 2014. "Urban spatial restructuring, event-led development and scalar politics," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 51(14), pages 2961-2978, November.

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