Thinking of Space Relationally

1. Why did you choose this topic?

I am initially intrigued by the heterogeneity and displacement of contemporary art spaces in the Chinese mega-city of Beijing, constituted by trans-local knowledge, capital and social practices. When investigating such complex and dynamic spatial phenomenon, I found myself in a dilemma of either addressing the post-colonial/southern epistemic essentialism or post-modern epistemic ambiguity. I hereby dedicate this work to develop an alternative methodical approach to overcome such fallacy.

2. What new perspectives does your book offer?

By engaging with ›stratified ontology‹ and ›pluralist methodology‹ from critical realism, locally observable spatial phenomena are analyzed in a manifold yet context-sensitive manner. Both European and Chinese relational epistemic postulations are treated as equal initial theories whose fallibilities are determined by effect-based causality. This perspective renders the systematic mixing of plural theories, the illumination of generative mechanisms and their contingent conjunctures possible.

3. What makes your topic relevant for current research debates?

It first enriches the debates over thinking of space relationally. This book lifts the neural masquerades of prevalent relational spatial theories by elucidating their distinct epistemic postulations and explanatory powers. It then develops a coherent pluralist methodology for urban studies in compressed modern conditions. Based on critical realism's social ontology, it addresses the connections and conflicts of co-existing generative mechanisms, while shies away from politicizing science.

4. Choose one person you would like to discuss your book with!

Laurence Roulleau-Berger, the editor of Post-Western revolution in sociology: from China to Europe. I believe, she would be interested in reading this book, which has a special focus on integrating European relational spatial theories to constructively research urban space in China. Also, her long-term observational, research experiences and brilliant insights about the European and Chinese sociological knowledge production would bring stimulating questions and comments to my research.

5. Your book summary in one sentence:

A methodology for thinking of space relationally beyond relativism: from multiple learned theories to manifold situated research.