Liu Xin – författare

An exploration of the conflict between traditional Chinese ideology and modern Chinese business practice

Based on a major research project undertaken by a team at the Institute of Market Economy, Development Research Center of the State Council of China, a project which included extensive survey research, and involved also many international scholars including researchers at the World Economic Forum Research Center and OECD, this book explores the possible future trajectories for urbanization in China. The book argues, drawing on examples from around the world, that technological advances have a huge impact on the exact nature of urbanization, and that institutions and policies have a significant role too, institutional arrangements such as modern education systems, patents and intellectual protection, and modern corporate systems. The book goes on to assess how current technological advances are likely to affect future urbanization and concludes by setting out how China should seize the opportunities from new technological advances and the associated transformation and upgrading of economic and social structures, and coordinate the development of "technology, factors of production, industry and institutions" as an integrated engine for high quality future urbanization.

Based on a major research project undertaken by a team at the Institute of Market Economy, Development Research Center of the State Council of China, a project which included extensive survey research, and involved also many international scholars including researchers at the World Economic Forum Research Center and OECD, this book explores the possible future trajectories for urbanization in China. The book argues, drawing on examples from around the world, that technological advances have a huge impact on the exact nature of urbanization, and that institutions and policies have a significant role too, institutional arrangements such as modern education systems, patents and intellectual protection, and modern corporate systems. The book goes on to assess how current technological advances are likely to affect future urbanization and concludes by setting out how China should seize the opportunities from new technological advances and the associated transformation and upgrading of economic and social structures, and coordinate the development of "technology, factors of production, industry and institutions" as an integrated engine for high quality future urbanization.

The concept of smart cities holds environmental promises: that digital technologies will reduce carbon emissions, air pollution and waste, and help address climate change. Drawing on academic scholarship and two case studies from Manchester and Helsinki, this timely and accessible book examines what happens when these promises are broken, as they prioritise technological innovation rather than environmental care. The book reveals that smart cities’ vision of sustainable digital future obfuscates the environmental harms and social injustices that digitisation inflicts. The framework of “broken promises”, coined by the authors, centres environmental questions in analysing imaginaries and practices of smart cities. This is a must read for anyone interested in the connections between digital technologies and environment justice.

Global politics has been completely transformed by the rise of digitalisation and the politicised use of everyday digital communication tools by ordinary people in citizen engagement and mass protest. And yet, digital politics as a field is rarely explored holistically and interdisciplinary beyond a narrow focus on digital activism, digital warfare or Internet governance.Digital Politics, Digital Histories, Digital Futures addresses this gap. Bringing together contributions from junior and experienced scholars, the book examines digital politics theoretically, methodologically, and ethically, offering interdisciplinary perspectives and innovative pedagogies. The first part of the book presents research chapters that look at misinformation and reactionary online activism, digital imperialism and capitalism, future internet governance, digital memory, digital waste, and environmental imagination. The second part showcases several creative and experimental tools for studying digital politics historically, and for analysing and creating future imaginaries of digital politics. By sharing these tools and reflecting on the process of their creation, the book aims to simultaneously push the boundaries of, and inspire new teaching and research in, the field of digital politics.