The challenges and opportunities of inclusive smart cities

Yang, Liuqingqing 2024. The challenges and opportunities of inclusive smart cities. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Given the challenges and opportunities that rapid urbanisation and globalisation present for smart city development, policymakers must adopt a forward-looking and comprehensive perspective in their policymaking. Research on smart city policymaking has recently emphasised the need for a more human-centred approach that shifts the narrative away from more traditional focus on technology. This reveals the need for a more in-depth understanding of the extent to which social inclusion is incorporated into the policymaking process. Due to China's unique governance context, there is a lack of in-depth research on the extent to which social inclusion is considered in the development of smart cities in China. Drawing on Manuel Castells' Network Society Theory, this research explores the relationship between the development of smart cities and their governance, power structures, and social inclusion. This research analyses the extent to which social inclusion is considered in the policymaking process of smart cities, specifically focusing on Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China. This research employs a comprehensive methodology that involves both analysing policy documents, at national and city levels, and conducting semi-structured interviews with university both researchers and officials at different levels of government. The aim is to investigate the extent to which social inclusion is considered in the policymaking process of smart cities. The analysis uncovers a notable omission in the incorporation of social inclusion in Qingdao smart city policies, which links to national and political circumstances that prioritise technical and economic progress above human-centred needs. This omission is a crucial defect that threatens the comprehensive development of smart cities. This study provides an in-depth analysis of both the extent to which social inclusion has been considered in smart city policies, as well as of the understanding and perceptions of policymakers about social inclusion during the policymaking process. In particular, it explains why social inclusion is lacking in current smart city policies. The findings of this research assist stakeholders, such as urban planners and decision-makers, in reflecting on and analysing the nature of smart city policies, enabling them to improve their inclusiveness. The findings highlight the need for a fundamental change in thinking, towards policymaking procedures that are more human-centred and inclusive within the existing Chinese governance context. This change in strategy would guarantee that the development of smart cities aligns with the government’s wider objectives of social justice and social inclusion, thereby making the smart city more inclusive. Keywords: Smart city policy; policymaking process; social inclusion; case study

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Geography and Planning (GEOPL)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Smart city policy Policymaking process Social inclusion Ageing population Case study
Funders:	Chinese Scholarship Council
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	26 May 2026
Last Modified:	26 May 2026 15:14
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/187156

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