Research and issues on China's smart city transformation under the perspective of"socio-technical synergy"
Smart city development and transition have become an important topic of greatest concern to academics and city managers in the new era.However,the current research in this field still follows technological determinism or adopts a knowledge(social)determinism perspective,lacking a discussion of the process and mechanism of urban smart transformation from the lens of technological-social interactions.In view of this,the study draws from the mutual construction theory of society and technology and the thought of the social-technological system to examine the symbiosis of technological innovation and social transformation.The aim is to reveal how the smart city,as a socio-technical system,undergoes gradual transformation under the simultaneous evolution of the social organization and governance mechanisms and technological innovation.The study draws on the multi-lever perspective approach(MLP)of the social-technical system.It builds a"social-technical synergy"framework and points out the analysis ideas at the three levels of micro-niche,meso-system,and macro-landscape.The ultimate goal is to provide theoretical and methodological references for smart city transformation studies in the future.The study suggests that future research on the sustainable transformation of China's smart cities should consider the country's unique socio-economic context,institutional and governance mechanisms,and urban development realities.In the niche-level analysis,it is crucial to focus on the dynamic nature of multilevel government involvement.The study should delve into government-led urban development,technological innovation and governance strategies concerning local leadership,institutional motivation,entrepreneurial initiatives,and more.Besides,examining the collaborative approaches and interactions among various stakeholders and their contextual embeddedness is essential for a comprehensive understanding as well.In the regime level analysis,it is important to consider the distinctiveness of China's socio-institutional context.The emphasis should be on understanding how China's specific state-market dynamics,central-local relations,and market mechanisms either enable or hinder the process of digital infrastructure development,technological innovation,and governance practices.When examining the landscape level,attention should be directed towards exploring the interplay among global,national and local contexts,as well as factors that drive smart city transformation within these different scales.Drawing on sustainable transition geography and MLP approach,and honing in on the unique characteristics of China's social-institutional system can offer valuable insights into the driving forces behind China's smart city development.This approach not only offers theoretical direction but also provide policy rationale for enhancing the resilience of smart cities and promoting sustainability within urban socio-technical systems in the future.
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