Page 168 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Urban orientalism and informal urbanization

the development of a robust conceptual framework that 3. Research design
guided the research and provided essential background for
the investigation. This study employs a multifaceted research design to
thoroughly analyze the intricate dynamics of urban
During the empirical data collection phase, qualitative orientalism and informal urbanization in Jinan, Shandong
research methods were utilized, including semi-structured province, China. The research design integrates a
interviews, focus group discussions, and participant multidisciplinary approach, combining a literature review,
observation. A total of 25 stakeholders participated qualitative research, and spatial analysis to provide a
in semi-structured interviews: 10 urban planners, five comprehensive understanding of these phenomena.
policymakers, seven residents of informal settlements, and
three members of migrant communities. These interviews 3.1. Literature review
revealed that 80% of urban planners and policymakers The research began with a thorough examination of existing
acknowledged the influence of Jinan’s “Oriental” identity literature on orientalism, urbanization, and informality.
on urban development policies, noting that cultural This review established the theoretical framework and
esthetics were often prioritized over practical urban provided essential background information for the study.
needs. In contrast, 70% of the residents and migrants Key sources included academic books, journal articles,
expressed feelings of marginalization, primarily due to and theoretical works by scholars such as Edward Said and
inadequate infrastructure and a lack of formal recognition Ananya Roy.
by city authorities. To gain a deeper understanding of
community dynamics, five focus group discussions were 3.2. Qualitative research
conducted, each with 8 – 10 residents from different Empirical data were collected through qualitative
informal settlements, totaling 45 participants. These research techniques to gain in-depth insights into the
discussions highlighted a shared sense of resilience, perceptions and experiences of various stakeholders.
with 85% of participants expressing frustration over Semi-structured interviews were conducted with
their exclusion from formal urban planning processes. urban planners, policymakers, residents of informal
The focus groups also underscored the critical role of settlements, and members of migrant communities,
informal social networks, with 90% of participants relying
on these networks to access basic services such as water aiming to capture their viewpoints and firsthand
and electricity. Furthermore, the researchers engaged in experiences. Focus group discussions with residents
of informal settlements further explored community
3 months of participant observation within four different dynamics and shared perceptions. In addition, the
informal settlements. These observations revealed that
approximately 60% of daily activities in these areas centered researchers engaged in participant observation within
around navigating the challenges of informal living, such informal settlements to gain a nuanced understanding of
as securing safe housing and maintaining sanitation. This the residents’ daily lives and the sociocultural dynamics
participant observation provided a stark contrast between of these areas.
the lived realities of informal settlers and the romanticized 3.3. Spatial analysis
narratives often perpetuated by urban orientalism.
Spatial analytic methods were employed to visualize the
In addition to qualitative methods, spatial analytic spatial distribution and temporal evolution of informal
techniques were employed to map the expansion of settlements in Jinan, Shandong province, China. GIS
informal settlements and track urban transformations tools were utilized to create detailed maps that illustrate
in Jinan over time. Geographic information system the spread of informal settlements and associated urban
(GIS) tools and satellite imagery were utilized to visually changes over time. By leveraging GIS technology, the
represent spatial patterns, identify areas of informal researchers layered various types of spatial data to identify
urbanization, and provide empirical evidence of the city’s patterns and trends in the development of these areas.
growth dynamics. Satellite imagery analysis further detected pockets of
Finally, the data obtained from the literature review, informal urbanization, providing a visual representation
qualitative study, and geographical analysis were of spatial trends and helping track changes in land use
triangulated to achieve a comprehensive understanding and settlement expansion. Together, these spatial analytic
of the interplay between urban orientalism and informal methods offer a comprehensive view of how informal
urbanization in Jinan. This triangulation ensured precision settlements emerge and evolve within Jinan’s urban
and reliability, enabling a thorough examination of the landscape, facilitating a deeper understanding of the
phenomena under investigation. dynamics at play.

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3517