This book interrogates the role of trust in shaping urban public spaces through an empirically grounded study of Shanghai. Central to this book is the in-depth exploration of the intricate relationship between trust, control, and the formation of public spaces. By analysing the complex interplay between the application of control tools and the generation of trust, and by dissecting the obstacles rooted in current top-down governance frameworks in Shanghai, the study offers a critical analysis and investigates how trust can be integrated into the governance of shaping public spaces.

Xuewei Chen is an Associate Researcher at the Shanghai Academy of Development & Reform and holds a PhD in Urban Planning and Design from University College London (Bartlett School of Planning). This research was conducted during his PhD studies at University College London.