Socialist Urban Design

Although "the communist party has had a long history of rural rhetoric," the reality has been that urban areas get more attention because of the socialist focus on industrialization. (CGC) Indeed, cities throughout the communist world are prime arenas for the Party to showcase its power and prestige through architecture, monuments, and industry. And almost all communist cities have certain characteristics in common. Beijing is certainly no exception.

The main principles of socialist urban planning are as follows:

• The size of growth of major cities should be limited; urban sprawl should be kept under tight containment.
• Everyone has the right to housing.
• The most efficient mode of housing the people is in special "neighborhoods" called mikroroyans.
• Green space should be consciously included in the city plan.
• Strict zoning, such as for shopping districts and industry, should be established and enforced.
• The city layout shall include a symbolic center with a wide, open space bordered by governmental and cultural buildings.
• Efficient public transportation should be provided and maintained.
• Shopping facilities should be available to all.

These principles outline the ideal city in the eyes of communist/socialist urban planners. However, in reality many of these principles are never realized, or are realized inadequately. The disparity arises because the urban planners are not the ones making the ultimate decisions about the workings of the city; communist government officials make these decisions. And the rationale government officials have behind their decisions often has very little to do with the smooth and efficient operation of a major city.

Indeed, the case often appears to be that the government officials making the decisions are far more concerned with the glorification of the Party than with providing a clean, safe, welcoming environment in which those they rule may live. In fact, the only one of the above principles that Beijing has truly adhered to is the inclusion of a ceremonial city center, which is in place to celebrate the power of the Communist Party. Walking through Tiananmen Square, the message is quite clear: the Party is all-important; the individual is to be subsumed for the benefit of the government.

The other principles of socialist urban planning, while commendable in and of themselves, seem to remain far-off ideals. The key is the difference between, for example, housing per se and sufficient housing. Everyone in Beijing has housing. Everyone in Beijing does not have sufficient housing. In fact, housing conditions are atrocious. Shopping may be available for all, but only at high prices and with scant selection. Transportation is horrendously overcrowded. The main problem seems to be that Beijing is simply not equipped to handle the tremendous population it is home to. Indeed, it is doubtful that any urban system in the world could successfully manage Beijing's population. Beijing has generally achieved the first principle of socialist urban planning by containing urban sprawl; however, they have merely transformed the problem into one of density, with a greater number of people living in a relatively small space.