Dancing with the Devil? Gentrification and Urban Struggles in, through and against the State in Nanjing, China

Gentrification has been an important process that rapidly reconfigures the socio-spatial landscapes of Chinese cities. Through the case of Laochengnan in Nanjing, this article contributes to bringing out the multiple and ambiguous positions of the state in the new build gentrification and the roles played by urban struggles in shaping the process. In particular, we highlight how residents and activists exploited the fragmented and conflicting interests within the state and activated connections with some state agents in the fight against the destruction of homes and urban heritage, which had led to reforms in urban heritage governance and changes in urban development modalities in Laochengnan. Although partial, the achievement of these struggles so far testifies to the potential to mobilize the state as one of the tactics to resist gentrification.