Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2019, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (2): 85-106.

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Spatial Structure Type and the Level of Social Interaction with Neighbors: Spatial Perspective of Urban Community Integration

HE Xiaxu   

  1. Research Center of Social Work, South China University of Technology
  • Online:2019-03-20 Published:2019-03-20

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Abstract:

Community integration is an important way to improve capacity of national grassroots governance,while social interaction with neighbors is one of the important aspects of community integration. Based on the data of China Labor Force Dynamic Survey Data of 2014 (CLDS), this article explores the relations between spatial structure of urban community and social interaction with neighbors. Three basic spatial structures within community are constructed: social space, physical space and ecological space. The study has found that the higher level of occupational heterogeneity,the lower the level of social ties among neighbors; the level of economic heterogeneity has no effect on neighboring ties. Heterogeneity of dimensional differences have played selective negative effects at community level. The higher proportion of local population and the higher frequency of residents' participation in social organization activities, the higher the level of neighboring ties. The positive effect of residents' participation has compensation effect for heterogeneity. Physical space of community structure includes segregated and shared facilities. Segregated facilities such as the buildings access control have substantially reduced the level of neighboring ties. It plays the role in protecting the residents of this building and excluding non-residents, that also reflects the vulnerability of neighboring ties and residents' inertia psychology in maintaining relations. The number of shared facilities in the community has no influence on social ties with neighbors. Environmental pollution in residential areas has a direct damaging effect on social connections with neighbors. The green ratio of community can enhance the level of social interaction with neighbors. Therefore, in the process of community integration and reshaping, reducing the degree of environmental pollution in residential areas, building a friendly community ecological environment, and actively encouraging and promoting residents to participate in different types of social organization activities are important ways to improve the level of neighboring ties.

Key words: heterogeneity, social interaction with neighbors, pollution, access control, participation