The Geographies of Rural Migrants' Belonging During COVID-19 in Urban China

Abstract

COVID-19 has significantly affected vulnerable populations worldwide, particularly rural migrants in urban China, who have suffered immensely during the pandemic. This article explores how COVID-19 has influenced rural migrants' sense of belonging across various geographical scales. It posits that the pandemic has acted as an external force that reshaped governance, institutional arrangements and government policies, resulting in a new socio-spatial order that has reconstructed rural migrants' experiences of belonging. In Nanjing, the article finds that rural migrants diminished sense of belonging to the city is linked to strict COVID-19 measures, inadequate government support and ongoing institutional discrimination. Conversely, their sense of belonging to neighbourhood communities has improved due to increased opportunities for participation in community governance and activities. Additionally, their sense of belonging within their dwellings is influenced by personal experiences and interactions. Ultimately, this article enhances our understanding of the geographies and politics of belonging, offering insights into how urban China's unique governance structure during COVID-19 has impacted rural migrants' sense of belonging and civil rights.