"Ancient Capitals" were once the core of governance systems, although with the passage of time and growth, still represented the development of different human civilization; in contemporary urban studies, they contain more meanings of cultural space. In this paper, with perspectives of spatial theories from French Sociologist, Henri Lefebvre, the author tries to look for continuation of the new governance model from construction of the old civilization, to figure out the ways of practice and representation in culture to describe this world ancient city in East Asia, Xi’an. Social policies, living styles and cultural beliefs derived from this ancient city help us to analyze the urban governance methods under one party dominated nation. The value and significance of this study are mainly based on the three relevant levels of structure to describe residents’ everyday life with being voluntary dominated and controlled by space. From experience, imagination, and ideology; this city represents the hegemonic model of the Chinese cultural center, affecting its citizens with the daily life of coercion and adaptation; social relations constituted by discourses with metaphorical and metonymic functions; and consumption, advertising, fashion and travelling. Social policies, living styles and cultural beliefs derived from this ancient city help us to analyze the urban governance methods under one party-dominated nation, different from other East and Southeast Asian regimes, such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. From the influence of global diversification and democratization, Xi’an in urban space also faces the challenges of cultural continuity and governance transformation.

Authors:
Xiaokang Lei, Northwest University, China
Jeffrey Guo, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Jeffrey Guo is a University Postdoctoral Fellow or Instructor at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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