Speaker
Description
Boundaries, as extremely common elements in urban space, are closely linked to the development of urban space and people's daily lives. In urban space, there is a rich variety of boundary types. Natural boundaries, in the form of mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, naturally divide the space; institutional boundaries divide the city into different governance units according to management needs; community boundaries, through the division of residential clusters, contribute to the rationalization of urban functional zoning and the scope of public services.
These boundaries include both physical and virtual forms, either naturally formed or artificially demarcated. In existing research, scholars from various disciplines have conducted in - depth explorations of various boundaries in urban space from different perspectives. Past research has mainly focused on the fragmentation effects and spatial effects of boundaries on urban space, and has also been committed to exploring effective strategies for breaking down boundary barriers under the general trend of regional integration. However, existing research perspectives generally regard boundaries simply as obstacles to economic integration, failing to fully recognize the significant contributions of boundaries as a governance tool to the orderly development of urban space.
This study selects Xuanwu District, Nanjing City as an empirical case. By applying scientific and reasonable boundary identification methods and boundary effect evaluation methods, it deeply studies the evolution and development process of social governance boundaries, and comprehensively analyzes the positive and negative effects of social governance boundaries on the optimal development of urban space.
The research results show that the positive effects of the social governance boundaries in development zones significantly outweigh the negative effects. The positive effects are reflected in that clear governance boundaries clearly define the scope of governance responsibilities and powers, enabling communities to obtain more comprehensive public service facilities, improving the accessibility of public resources, and enhancing the governance efficiency of the government. However, it should not be overlooked that this governance boundary also brings about urban spatial inequality, such as accelerating the differentiation of people and space. With the increasing emphasis on planning, boundaries have long broken through the category of simple physical barriers and transformed into a governance tool, and even become an innovative force. With the support of scientific planning, boundaries can play a positive guiding role in urban space, ensuring a more equitable distribution of resources, public spaces, and opportunities.
In addition, this study also finds that there is a certain degree of conflict between the economic development boundaries and social governance boundaries in urban space, which hinders the further effective exertion of the boundary governance function. Therefore, it is urgent to adopt more collaborative methods to maintain the effectiveness of boundaries.
In conclusion, this study conducts in - depth discussions on how to make boundaries play a better role in urban governance, proposes using boundary demarcation methods and regulation methods as institutional tools for urban planning, and hopes to contribute to the sustainable development of cities. Through this study, it aims to provide new ideas and methods for the fields of urban planning and governance, helping cities achieve more orderly, equitable, and sustainable development in a complex and changing development environment.
| Keywords | Boundaries；Spatial Barriers；Governance Tools |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
