Urban discourse in the management of sustainable development of China’s mountainous areas
Authors:   Linguistics University of Nizhny Novgorod, SAVCHENKO Irina , KREMNYOV Evgeny ,   Irkutsk State University
Published: March 2024

Introduction. Sustainable development of mountainous areas is one of the priorities of modern China; it meets the basic focus of state policy on the harmonization of all spheres of life of the population. At the same time, mountainous areas occupy a special place in these processes, since they have special characteristics that complicate the introduction of economic, political and cultural innovations. These characteristics include, first of all, the geographical location, which determines the low level of infrastructure, inaccessibility of logistics routes and, as a consequence, the need to invest significant effort and resources to improve sustainable development indicators. China has diverse mountain regions such as the Himalayas, Tianshan, Kunlun and others. Each of these regions has its own unique geographical features, climate, vegetation and wildlife. When developing sustainable development programs, it is necessary to take into account these differences and adapt approaches to specific mountain regions. Materials and methods. Discursive regional practices in the dichotomy of urban/non-urban content are considered in the article in line with the concept of social organization of tradition. Within the framework of this concept, the so-called “small traditions” that arise in relatively closed rural regions are influenced by the “big tradition” generated by the city as a place of concentration of an educated population focused on the formation of progressive social practices. The indicated theoretical and methodological approaches form the basis of the analysis carried out within the framework of this study. Results. All areas of management in China, including the management of sustainable development of territories, are under the jurisdiction of party-state structures, both central and local. These structures pay special attention to the managerial discursive practices of the regions, among which mountainous regions with their special geographical location, which gives rise to cultural and social isolation, have a pronounced specificity. Among the main strategies is the promotion in local societies of political culture and other types of urban cultures that contribute to the sustainable development of mountain regions: economic, legal, administrative culture, etc. Discussion. Analysis of the strategies for the formation of urban discourse in the management of mountainous areas made it possible to identify three basic strategies of urban discourse in China: physical, information and communication, and socio-moral. All three of these strategies are fundamental to the formation of the urban discourse of the “great tradition” in the mountainous regions of China. Based on the analysis, we can conclude that the process of formation of an urban discourse on managing the sustainable development of mountainous areas in China demonstrates several important trends. State and regional authorities in China actively cooperate and coordinate their actions in the development and implementation of programs for the sustainable development of mountain areas. They exchange information, experiences and best practices to jointly develop effective strategies and action plans. This contributes to the sustainable development of mountain regions, improving the quality of life of the local population and preserving the natural environment. Conclusions. The authors conclude that Chinese government agencies are building a system in which the urban discourse of the “big state tradition” will integrate the rural discourse of the “small tradition” of the mountainous regions. Resume. The work compares the concepts of territorial management using the “large state tradition” and the “small tradition” of mountainous areas. A comparative analysis of these traditions and the possibility of their interaction is shown. It has been determined that the basic strategy for the development of the mountainous regions of China is the formation of elements of urban culture in local communities, including various aspects. Suggestions for practical applications and future research directions. The research results can be useful in developing programs for the development of mountainous areas in various countries. The data presented in the article allows us to form a trend for sustainable development, including tourism, culture and social development.