Introduction to mobility China

Abstract

This introductory and editorial article emerges from a series of shortfalls of the extant migration studies in China's urban migrants. Particularly, the approach to the current debates on China's urban migrants is generally lacking dialogues with existing theoretical paradigms. Moreover, the current literature mainly concentrates on the labour migration with homogenous identity background concerning socio-economic aspects at the macro-level, situating itself in a relatively narrow discipline of urban and migration studies. Therefore, we identify three gaps in current Chinese urban migration studies, namely, insufficient theoretical contributions, inadequate in terms of the diversification of the research objects and lack of attention for migration to less developed regions. Collecting eight interesting and innovative articles that focus on broader aspects of migration trajectories, this introductory and editorial essay first presents a holistic and updated scheme of migrants' integration and settlement intentions in urban China. It then moves to the theoretical debates that problematise and innovate the existing analytical approach in migration studies and contribute to capitalist urbanisation and everyday urbanism. Next, it turns to the complicated relationship between migration and development in China's less developed regions. Finally, it examines various forms of migration and their socio-economic and socio-institutional consequences. In sum, this issue attempts to bring current Chinese migration studies into conversation with each other and, through the case studies, to suggest practical frameworks for policymakers to promote urban governance that makes cities more inclusive places not only for locals but also for newcomers.