Author(s)

ShuQin Yang

Affiliation(s)

Shanghai Technician School, Hongkou 200437, Shanghai, China.

Corresponding Author

ShuQin Yang

ABSTRACT

China’s rapid urbanization since the 1990s has fundamentally reshaped grassroots social structures, prompting state-led community construction initiatives. Unlike Western concepts of organic social cohesion,Chinese urban communities are externally shaped entities, particularly following the policy reforms post-2000. This paper examines how these forces have redefined community roles amid social integration challenges following the decline of the danwei (work-unit) system. By analyzing conceptual shifts, it provides theoretical insights into governance practices and proposes a balance between state guidance and social autonomy. The study highlights the tension between administrative efficiency and grassroots vitality, offering pathways for sustainable community development in China’s urban landscape.

KEYWORDS

Community concept; Urban governance; Social transformation; Post-danwei society; Grassroots democracy

CITE THIS PAPER

ShuQin Yang. Theoretical reflection on the practice of urban community construction. Trends in Social Sciences and Humanities Research. 2025, 3(3): 32-36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61784/tsshr3149.

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