A Home of One's Own

This book examines the responses and actions of the first generation of homeowners to deal with the life in privately governed commodity housing estates in People's Republic of China, with special reference to Guangzhou. The book argues that the production, negotiation and governance of the new social space is a highly complex process, influenced by the interaction among the real estate business actors, different levels of governments and residents. The residents are exercising autonomy and agency, in their quest to attain status positions and rights of "homeowners".