Social Integration of New-Generation Migrants in Urban China: A Case Study of Suzhou

Associated with the rapid urbanisation, there is a gigantic issue of social change in China. Part of that change is caused by the millions of rural-urban migrants. As a consequence, their integration into China’s urban society has drawn extensive attention in recent years. There are, however, a growing number of new-generation migrants whose prospects of integration cannot be simply gleaned from the experience of their predecessors, the old-generation migrants. Based on the concept of lifeworld (Habermas), the character of the new generation migrants are investigated from the perspective of their social interactions at the neighbourhood level. The study uses qualitative and quantitative data derived from a survey of a large resettlement neighbourhood (new ‘urban village’) in Suzhou. In the survey, we examine the socio-spatial sphere of migrants’ social interaction and the role of the receiving neighbourhood in facilitating such interaction.

Our sample shows that migrants are the overwhelming majority in neighbourhood. The findings show that new-generation migrants are more willing and have more potential to integrate into the urban society and become permanent urban citizens. Although new-generation migrants have weak neighbourly interactions, they have relatively high attachment and sense of belonging of the neighbourhood. The findings also shows the quality of public open space is important for a more flourishing neighbourhood life which could support better social integration of migrants.