A comparative ethnic study on the urban integration of the migrant populations in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the process of urbanization

ABSTRACT

This paper constructs an urban integration index system of the migrant population to compare differences in the level of urban integration among different ethnic groups on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The study finds that Tibetan migrants have the highest level of urban integration, followed by Han and then Hui migrants. The migrants of each ethnic group have their own advantages in urban integration among the different dimensions used in this study. Han migrants have the highest level of economic integration, Tibetan migrants have the highest level of social participation, and Hui migrants have the highest level of psychological and cultural integration. There are also regional differences, with the level of urban integration of migrants in Qinghai Province being higher than that of migrants in the Tibet Autonomous Region. From the perspective of the different dimensions of integration, the economic integration of migrants in Qinghai Province and the social participation of migrants in the Tibet Autonomous Region have integration advantages. In addition, factors affecting the urban integration of the migrant population of different ethnic groups share some similarities and have some differences.

KEYWORDS:

• Urban integration
• ethnicity comparison
• migrant population
• Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Acknowledgments

We thank the editors for their assistance and the reviewers for their valuable comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Statistical Bureau in Tibet Autonomous Region, Major data bulletin of the Seventh National Census of Tibet Autonomous Region, http://mzt.xizang.gov.cn/zxzx/xzxw/202105/t20210524_205954.html. Statistical Bureau in Qinghai Province, Major data bulletin of the Seventh National Census of Qinghai Province,http://tjj.qinghai.gov.cn/tjData/surveyBulletin/202107/t20210701_73825.html.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (STEP) [2019QZKK0406]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [41871129].

Notes on contributors

Ming Tian

Ming Tian is a professor at the School of Social Development and Public Policy (SSDPP), Beijing Normal University, in Beijing, China. He specializes in migration, urbanization and sustainable development. His work has also been published in the Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Journal of Urban Affairs, and Scientia Geographica Sinica.

Jinpeng Wei

Jinpeng Wei is a PhD student at the School of Social Development and Public Policy (SSDPP), Beijing Normal University, in Beijing, China. His research includes migration and urbanization. His work has also been published in Science & Technology for Development and the Journal of Subtropical Resources and Environment.

Jingsong Liu

Jingsong Liu is a professor at the School of Geographical Sciences, Hebei Normal University, in Heibei, China. He focuses on Geographic Information System, Population Geography, and Quantitative remote sensing. His work has also been published in the Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, Acta Geographica Sinica, and Geographical Research.