The Space Construction in the United Front Work of the Emerging Social Groups: Based on the Work Experience from Minhang District in Shanghai ()
1. Introduction
In contemporary China, the united front is an important approach of national governance. United front work is highly flexible, enabling it to respond effectively to the ever-changing domestic and international situation (Lin, 2011). The emerging social groups is a prime example of the changes. The emerging social groups have emerged and grown in tandem with the launch and deepening of reform and opening-up. It has not only provided fresh impetus for the country’s social development, but also placed new demands on the relevant work of the Party and the government. The united front work of the emerging social groups has thus become a theoretical issue that requires further analysis.
The current research in this area focuses on four dimensions. Focusing on the conceptual level, Li (2017) has identified two fundamental aspects of the emerging social groups: they are rising in the wake of the management and information revolution and outside the official system during the process of social transformation. Lu and Li (2017) have pointed out that there are four areas of tension regarding the characteristics of the groups. Focusing on the organizational level, Zhang (2020) has identified the organizational structure, organizational level, and organizational tendency; Hou (2020) has highlighted the vertical and horizontal organizational pathways; Yang (2020) has emphasized the necessity of reorganizing on the basis of self-organization; Guo (2020) has summarized the organizational network system as “Party Committee + Mass Organizations + Social Organizations + Self-Organizations”. Focusing on the political level, Li (2016) has pointed out the challenges currently faced in guiding the political values of the emerging social groups; Jiang (2017) has advocated for the construction of a comprehensive guidance model based on the leading institutions, coordination mechanisms, and guidance pathways. Focusing on the practical level, scholars have identified approaches such as the socialization approach (Cui et al., 2020), leveraging the bonds of social organizations (Zheng, 2007), targeted united front work (Yang & Xu, 2015), and optimizing online united front work (Zhang et al., 2019).
Current research emphasizes the practical dimension while neglecting theoretical development, and at the same time, it pays insufficient attention to the agency of the emerging social groups. Therefore, the path to achieving a theoretical breakthrough lies in effectively interpreting the concept of “space”. In theory, there is a natural affinity between space and united front work of emerging social groups, the creation and operation of space represent the theoretical application and transformation of united front work. In practice, the space provides a crucial driving factor, establishing, utilizing, and expanding the space has become a key component of this work. In light of this, this paper aims to outline a theoretical framework for united front work of the emerging social groups with space as its central element. This framework takes the unique characteristics and needs of the emerging social groups as its starting point, uses space as the core connecting element, and unfolds its logical structure based on space attributes, space positioning, and space efficacy. The specific analytical framework is as follows Table 1:
Table 1. Theoretical framework of this paper.
|
Property |
Theoretical Logic |
Practical Strategies |
Space
Attributes |
Field |
The unique nature of the emerging social groups, characterized by the
intersection of economic and political attributes, makes it impossible to adequately accommodate them within the existing institutional
frameworks; therefore, it is necessary to establish a new institutional framework tailored to their needs. |
Creating the appropriate physical space. |
Space
Positioning |
Method |
The emerging social groups not only place demands on the political
system’s capacity for inclusion, but also play a proactive and dynamic
role in the country’s social development; therefore, efforts must be made to unite and guide them. |
Establishing a space-based process for fostering unity and providing guidance. |
Space
Efficacy |
Outcome |
On the one hand, the emerging social groups connect with the Party
and the state through the space, thereby achieving political socialization; on the other hand, they achieve self-organization through spatial
aggregation and activities. |
Consolidate existing achievements and seeking to generate spillover effects. |
In order to elucidate the space logic underlying the united front work of the emerging social groups, this paper conducts a case study centered on the practical work of Minhang District in Shanghai. All data used is official, publicly available information from the internet, primarily published by the United Front Work Department of Minhang District and its official WeChat account, Chunshentongxin. It should be noted that the analysis based on Minhang District’s practices constitutes a theoretical construct rather than a general summary of experience, owing to the unique value of this case: First, Minhang District not only has a large population of the emerging social groups, but also provides a typical policy environment and institutional framework for this work across economic, political, and cultural dimensions, thereby possessing a universality that transcends general local experiences; Second, the relevant work experience in Minhang District was not achieved overnight nor is it static; it has undergone a long-term process of adjustment and optimization, which further ensures the theoretical accuracy and applicability of the findings; Third, the practical work in Minhang District and the related theoretical development are mutually reinforcing: the Party and government departments prioritize the theorization of experience, while research institutions emphasize the practical application of theory. This demonstrates that a sufficiently robust theory can be formulated based on the facts from Minhang District.
2. The Theoretical Connection between Space and United Work of Emerging Social Groups
2.1. Space Attributes: The Intersection of the Emerging Social Groups’ Economic and Political Characteristics
To explore the characteristics of the emerging social groups, it is more enlightening to begin with the fundamental concept of “social class”. Generally speaking, social class stems from the unequal distribution of social resources (Yang, 2011). Around this general proposition, different theorists have offered their own interpretations. Marx believes that the origins of social stratification should be considered from two aspects: the development of social productive forces and the concentration of the production; the unequal distribution of social resources naturally leads to the division of society into different classes. Weber, on the other hand, believes that in addition to economic factors, power and status also play a significant role in the formation of social classes. Durkheim’s functionalist theory, however, argues that social class is merely a manifestation of the social division of labor, while opponents of functionalism counter that it is precisely the inequality in social distribution that gives rise to class divisions, and function cannot mask conflict. Based on the above discussion, it is evident that social class possesses two fundamental characteristics: first, an economic dimension, meaning that social classes are all linked to specific economic activities; and second, a political dimension, meaning that political factors inevitably come into play in the interactions and even conflicts between social classes.
All social classes possess both economic and political attributes, and the emerging social groups are naturally no exception; however, this group exhibits certain unique characteristics regarding its specific economic and political attributes and the relationship between the two. According to the Regulations of the Communist Party of China on United Front Work, the emerging social groups primarily include managerial and technical personnel in private and foreign-invested enterprises, employees of intermediary and social organizations, freelancers, and new media professionals. The definition reflects the fact that this group emerged from the various economic activities that flourished following the reform and opening-up. In China, a socialist market economy has been established, which indicates that the essential nature of the group’s economic attributes lies not in inequality of distribution, but in division of labor. At the same time, there is no fundamental conflict between the emerging social groups and other social groups (Xu, 2022). On the contrary, the future direction of this group lies in contributing to the development of the state and rejuvenation of the nation, and it politically constitutes an important component of the “concentric circles” of the united front. In short, the emerging social groups do not imply economic or political incompatibility or a clear demarcation from the existing social classes. It simply means that the group has never existed before (Li, 2017).
The emerging social groups can be regarded as “a class with distinctive characteristics that has evolved from the working class” (Lian et al., 2016). Their distinct nature stems from the complex relationship between their economic and political attributes. Consequently, the success or failure of related works hinges on the ability to properly address these unique characteristics and complexities. This implies that the united front work of the emerging social groups must not only adapts to the most dynamic and rapidly changing sectors of China’s socio-economic development, but also concentrates efforts on guiding this group toward contributing to the state and society’s construction endeavors. To achieve the work objectives, the space must be effectively developed and utilized. The underlying mechanism is that the emerging social groups are active across various emerging economic sectors, and their distribution is characterized by constant change and widespread dispersion. Consequently, traditional approaches struggle to exert comprehensive and effective influence over them, inevitably leading to ineffectiveness. The shortcomings of traditional approaches indicate that the united front work about the group cannot rely on old habits or existing structures, a new space capable of accommodating this group must be established. If the fluidity and dispersion of the emerging social groups’ economic activities impose fundamental requirements on the space construction, then the need to politically unite and guide these groups further underscores the necessity of creating such spaces. In short, for united front work, the space holds fundamental value, and its attributes resonate with those of the emerging social groups: in economic terms, the space serves as an adaptable platform that accommodates the activities of the group; in political terms, the space functions as an organized arena for guiding and uniting the group.
2.2. Space Positioning: Uniting and Guiding the Emerging Social Groups
In the united front work of the emerging social groups, the space carries a dual connotation, encompassing both an activity platform and a field of operation. The former primarily refers to the physical space where relevant work is carried out and where the target groups engage in activities, while the latter emphasizes the interactive domain between these groups and the authority. Whether as the hardware of physical space or the software of the interactive sphere, the space in the united front work adheres to certain organizational principles and operational logic. A particularly crucial aspect is that the fundamental purpose of this space is to unite and guide the emerging social groups.
Uniting and guiding are the key components of the united front work (Guo, 2026). This is not only because the emerging social groups constitute a significant social group that has emerged since the reform and opening-up, and uniting and rallying them is a challenge the Party must address effectively, but also because the emerging social groups possess unique value amid the tide of socio-economic transformation, and guiding and directing them serves as an effective tool can promote the development of various undertakings (Song & He, 2026). As an outcome of adjustments to economic development models and social management systems, the emerging social groups have placed greater demands on the political system’s inclusiveness and capacity for integration. Recognizing the equal status of this group in the political, economic, social, and cultural spheres, safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests, and integrating them into the cause of socialist modernization constitute the fundamental requirements of the united front work of the emerging social groups. It is evident that uniting is the first step in this work.
The emerging social groups is not merely a passive product of changing circumstances; rather, this group serves as a dynamic force capable of playing an active role (Xiao & Yang, 2025). When domestic development is becoming increasingly complex and the international environment is growing more unpredictable, the emerging social groups can make significant contributions to economic reform, social harmony and stability, cultural development, and ideological security, drawing on their novelty born of the tide of the times, their flexibility in emerging fields, and their adaptability at the forefront of change. They have become a vital source of social transformation, innovation, and vitality (Zhang, 2021). Given the positive role played by the group, guiding them on the basis of unity has become a further requirement for the united front work.
Uniting and rallying the emerging social groups and maximizing their enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity constitute the central task of united front work of the emerging social groups (Wang, 2007). It necessitates a shift toward flexible approaches and methods. The flexible approach must meet the following requirements: the Party, the government and other social entities employ non-coercive means, the activities are based on shared social values and norms, and the goal is to guide the values and behaviors of the members (Gong, 2011).
In the process of translating overarching policy guidelines into practical action, the space plays an irreplaceable role through systematic design and procedures. First, to achieve the goal of uniting, the establishment of the space should align with the areas where the emerging social groups work and live, thereby ensuring maximum coverage and connection with this group. Areas that can resonate with the space used in united front work primarily include office buildings in business parks, cultural venues, online platforms, commercial spaces, and residential areas; Second, in order to implement the guiding principles, the space established in the work and living areas must maintain close ties with the party organizations to ensure that it can receive effective leadership. The party organizations that play a leading role in these spaces primarily include those within “two new” organizations (new economic organizations and new social organizations), various industry associations, as well as those located in the neighborhoods, communities, industrial parks, and enterprises where the emerging social groups reside; Finally, to enhance the functionality and ensure the sustainable development, these spaces should also engage in interaction with other types of organizations. For example, they can leverage the grassroots and professional nature of various social networking groups and self-organized groups to expand influence, or establish good ties with mass organizations such as trade unions, the Communist Youth League, the Women’s Federation, the Association for Science and Technology, the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and the Writers’ Association to gain support in relevant policy areas or professional fields.
2.3. Space Efficacy: Political Socialization and Self-Organization of the Emerging Social Groups
The intrinsic logic and practical characteristics of the united front work of the emerging social groups determine the necessity of creating and developing the space, which in turn provides sustained momentum for the further expansion and deepening of this work. The immense efficacy of such spaces lies in their creative realization of the political socialization and self-organization of the emerging social groups. The former relies on the bridging role of these spaces in connecting the Party and the state with the group, while the latter depends on the platform function these spaces provide for the group to gather and carry out activities.
Political socialization generally refers to the process by which people acquire knowledge about political traditions, political roles, and the associated behaviors (Bogdanor, 2011). Based on this, the political socialization of the emerging social groups primarily involves this group gaining a clear understanding of the state’s major policies and the common social ideals, and on this basis, determining their own position and responsibilities. In terms of understanding and grasping the state’s major policies and the common ideals of society, the emerging social groups are no different from other social groups; they all operate within a certain political framework and act in accordance with certain ideals and beliefs. The political socialization of the group should follow the group’s distinctive characteristics, and then identify points of convergence with the broader trends of national and social development. This process necessitates the presence of space elements. In the united front work of the emerging social groups, the space serves as a specialized channel through which the groups access relevant policy information and receive guidance and leadership from the Party and the government. The space is not only the endpoint for policy dissemination, but also the starting point for conveying opinions. Relying on this space, the emerging social groups achieve continuous communication with the Party and the government, thereby completing their own political socialization.
While political socialization emphasizes the need for emerging social groups to find their proper place in the process of national and social development, the goal of self-organization is to ensure the effective implementation of that positioning (Cao, 2025). In the united front work of the emerging social groups, self-organization carries a rather complex connotation; it implies that, in order to play a role in areas such as social governance and regional development, the emerging social groups need to undergo re-organization on the basis of self-organization (Yang, 2020). The self-organization initiated by the emerging social groups and the re-organization promoted under the Party’s leadership are both inseparable from the space that serves as organizational platforms (Wang et al., 2024).
How to make effective use of the space is a critical issue. Making effective use of these spaces requires continuously innovating and refining the Party’s approaches and methods in united front work, while deepening and optimizing the work system centered on research, publicity, and training. Specifically, the Party should research to gain a thorough understanding of the relevant situation, employ publicity to garner attention from all sectors of society, and utilize training to identify and cultivate various types of talent. In the united front work of the emerging social groups, the space has become a combination of research base, propaganda front, and training venue. In addition to providing a venue for carrying out related work, the space also provides a concrete means of implementation, fostering a work environment that eschews the abstract and embraces the concrete.
3. The “New Space” Initiative of Minhang District in Shanghai
Minhang District is located in the southwestern part of Shanghai. As an important industrial base and a new district for science, technology, and aerospace in Shanghai, the district is home to a large, diverse, and widespread population of the emerging social groups. According to statistics from around 2020 compiled by the United Front Work Department of Minhang District Committee of the CPC, the total number of the group in the district exceeds 300,000, of whom two-thirds are managerial and technical personnel in private and foreign-invested enterprises, while one-third are employees of intermediary and social organizations, freelancers, and new media professionals. Faced with a vast target population and a complex and multifaceted work environment, Minhang District has charted a course that centers on “new space”.
3.1. Creating “New Space”: Taking Root in the Activity Spheres
of the Emerging Social Groups under the Leadership of the Party
Creating “new space” is a process that involves building both physical workplaces and corresponding work environments based on the space attributes. The Party’s leadership and guidance in creating the “New Space” are manifested in the interactive relationship between the Party and the united front work; the parallel advancement and mutual reinforcement of the Party building and united front work fully leverage the Federation of Emerging Social Groups as a pivotal platform. The Federation plays a demonstrative and organizational role in the creation of “New Space”. The Federation serves as a link and bridge between the Party and the emerging social groups, charting the principled direction for “New Space”. It also serves as a vehicle and platform for strengthening ties and solidarity, providing the fundamental content for “New Space”. In addition, relevant working mechanisms have played a crucial role in the smooth implementation of “New Space”. Among these, the Joint Conference on the United Front Work of the Emerging Social Groups stands out. If the Party’s leadership, the participation of the Federation, and the establishment of working mechanisms provide the top-level design for “New Space”, then adapting its forms to different contexts constitutes its underlying logic. Based on the distinct characteristics of various contexts, Minhang District has developed six distinct forms of “New Space” (CPPCC Online, 2020):
Official buildings type, such as the “Maikejiang” cultural and creative space for enterprises from Taiwan Region in Qibao Town, the “Zhigu” science and technology innovation space in Pujiang Town, and the “Hongxinhui” in Xinhong Subdistrict. These “new spaces” are based in buildings within the parks, engage the local community, and organize activities targeting the emerging social groups;
Online platform type, such as the “New Forces of Shanghai, New Momentum in Minhang” branded radio station hosted on Shanghai Media’s Archimedes FM mobile social audio platform, as well as the online “new spaces” established in Pujiang, Wujing, and Huacao Towns. These “new spaces” have opened up a vast online domain, significantly enriching the information access channels and communication platforms for the emerging social groups;
Cultural venue type, such as the “New Spaces” established at venues like Dazhong Bookstore, Zhongshuge Bookstore, and Shuiyuetang Old Commune. These “New Spaces” focus on activities such as new book promotions and cultural dissemination, creating a “cultural package” tailored specifically for the emerging social groups;
Commercial venue type, these “New Spaces” are established in commercial venues such as shopping malls, primarily aiming to host exhibitions and serve groups with such needs;
Residential community type, these “New Spaces” are concentrated in Maqiao Town and Jinpu Subdistrict, where they organize activities with appropriate formats and rich content tailored to families from the emerging social groups residing there;
Foreign-invested enterprise type, a prominent example is the “New Space” established within Medtronic, a Fortune 500 company. Such “New Spaces” have broadened and deepened the scope and level of united front work of the emerging social groups, holding significant implications for the further advancement of this work.
3.2. Utilizing “New Space”: Serving and Guiding the Emerging Social Groups
Utilizing “New Space” is to achieve the space positioning, which is a process that involves taking a series of measures to serve, unite, and guide the emerging social groups. In Minhang District, the functions of “New Space” are carried out along two directions and two dimensions. The two directions refer to the fact that “New Space” must both unite and serve the emerging social groups and guide them to contribute to the state and society; the two dimensions refer to the fact that “New Space” serves as both a direct vehicle for relevant work and an indirect force supporting the broader picture. As a venue and platform, “New Space” primarily organizes the following types of activities:.
Political training programs, such as educational activities on the “Four Histories”, presenting learning outcomes through creative planning and filming1;
Community service programs, such as hosting parent-child tea parties (Chunshentongxin, 2024g), cultural forums (Chunshentongxin, 2024b) and music lessons (Chunshentongxin, 2022), which enrich the spiritual and cultural lives of the emerging social groups;
Policy advocacy, such as organizing the “New Space, New Development, New Forum” Future Industry Innovation Forum 1.0 (Chunshentongxin, 2024c) and the “Stimulating Regional Economic Vitality and Unleashing Youth Consumption Potential” Forum (Chunshentongxin, 2024e), which support economic and social development;
Social welfare: such as collaborating with public welfare projects like “Don’t Be Afraid of Scrapes” to support social governance (Chunshentongxin, 2023c).
In addition to directly hosting related events, “New Space” also serves as a catalyst and booster for broader initiatives, as evidenced by the following:
Providing manpower and resources for events organized by other groups, such as the Spring Festival gathering, the “Me and My Motherland” united front recitation event celebrating the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China2 and the team-building activities themed “Uniting Hearts and Minds to Strive Together, Building Dreams in Unison to Write a New Chapter” (Chunshentongxin, 2023d);
Demonstrating the ability to keep pace with the times, participating in trendy and creative events such as the Kayak Invitational3, the White-Collar Summer Carnival (Chunshentongxin, 2024i) and the “Coffee Walk” Market (Chunshentongxin, 2024d);
Leveraging diverse membership and social resources, providing strong support for initiatives such as the Volunteer Service Group for the emerging social groups (Chunshentongxin, 2024h), the E-commerce Experts’ Business and Agriculture Promotion Campaign (Chunshentongxin, 2023b) and environmental charity hikes (Chunshentongxin, 2023a).
3.3. Expanding “New Space”: Platform Support and Lessons Learned
Expanding “New Space” means fully recognizing the space efficacy, utilizing existing platforms to facilitate the self-organization of the emerging social groups, while simultaneously expanding these spaces outward to further advance the political socialization of this group. Based on this, the development of the “New Space” has generated spillover effects in other areas. These spillover effects are primarily manifested in the expansion of “New Space”. It should be noted that the spillover effects of “New Space” are key to understanding the connections and distinctions between the self-organization and political socialization of the emerging social groups. In practice, the self-organization of this group manifests in the establishment of relevant organizations and mechanisms, as well as a series of activities with the group as the main constituent and core objective (for specific activities, see the discussion on Utilizing “New Space”). As self-organization matures, the corresponding practices inevitably expand outward, generating spillover effects. These spillover effects are closely linked to the political socialization of the emerging social groups, because in this process, this group interacts with other groups as a whole, engage in activities within the broader context of the nation and its endeavors, and continually affirm their own position.
The expansion consists of two aspects. On the one hand, the practical functions of the “New Space” continue to extend outward, providing a platform to support work in other sectors. On the other hand, certain organizational principles and operational guidelines of “New Space” serve as a model for work in other sectors, generating a ripple effect. The expansion of “New Space” in both practical and conceptual terms is primarily reflected in three aspects:
The Practice and Innovation Base has grown with the support of “New Space”. For example, in June 2023, the “Freedom Is Yours” Minhang District Freelancers Guanghua Practice and Innovation Base officially launched at the Guanghua “New Space” in Zunqiao, representative studios from the Minhang District Freelancers’ Salon signed agreements and took on the first batch of projects under the “I Have My YOUNG” Community Governance Empowerment Initiative4;
Drawing on the operational principles of “New Space”, enterprises have built shared space platforms within industrial parks. A key feature of “New Space” is providing a platform for diverse groups to engage in joint activities and exchange ideas. This approach aligns with the need for mutual connection among enterprises within industrial parks. For instance, the Minhang District Enterprise Park for Taiwan Region has organized and established a shared space platform. Through formats such as salons and seminars, it has achieved significant results in integrating high-quality resources, building promotional platforms, strengthening legal teams, and expanding marketing channels (Chunshentongxin, 2024f);
Drawing on the deliberation principles of “New Space”, communities have created public deliberation spaces. “New Space” advocates for deliberation guidelines that encourage open discussion and shared responsibility, which resonate with the requirements of community governance. For example, the China Resources Youchao New Era Urban Builders and Managers’ Home in Maqiao Town has established the “Youchao YI Home” deliberation space within the community public service hall, encouraging community members to participate in deliberations and fostering a harmonious community (Chunshentongxin, 2024a).
4. Conclusion
The space serves not only as the core theoretical thread for understanding the united front work of the emerging social groups, but also as a key guiding principle for carrying out such work. The space also resonates in broader spheres. Most importantly, precisely because it reveals the Party’s behavioral patterns of continuous adaptation and innovation in the face of new circumstances and challenges, the space framework in the united front work of the emerging social groups possesses theoretical and practical spillover or demonstration effects. The specific logic underlying this is that when the Party addresses work targets and issues that differ from those of the past and deviate from conventional norms, it often chooses to establish a specific “new domain” tailored to that task. Within this domain, the Party then refines and implements a set of effective “new methods” to facilitate the achievement of its objectives. Through the establishment of this “new domain” and the application of these “new methods”, the Party also achieves its own renewal and advancement. Precisely because the Party serves as the core leadership of all national and social undertakings, the “new domain–new methods–self-renewal” model has become a theoretical framework for interpreting other practical endeavors and a set of practical experiences that can be drawn upon by other fields. Consequently, the space construction in the united front work of the emerging social groups has gained broader applicability and universal value across a wider range of domains.
Finally, it should be noted that while this paper proposes a general theory of space construction based on the exemplary experience of Minhang District in Shanghai, this does not imply that Minhang District’s approach can be arbitrarily replicated in other regions. Compared to other regions, Minhang District stands out for the maturity of its emerging social groups and the abundance of relevant resources; consequently, the specific practices that have emerged from this context are not easily replicated. However, the theoretical framework of “domain-methods-renewal” centered on space is universally applicable. This suggests that in the united front work of the emerging social groups, the Party, the government, and social organizations should approach their roles through a space lens. In other words, while space is not necessarily the only way to carry out this work, it is a relatively effective approach.
NOTES
1https://www.shmh.gov.cn/shmh/wjdt-tzb/20201224/499591.html
2https://www.shmh.gov.cn/shmh/wjdt-tzb/20210108/501872.html
3https://www.shmh.gov.cn/shmh/wjdt-tzb/20210930/529107.html
4https://www.shmh.gov.cn/shmh/wjdt-tzb/20230606/556754.html