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15 March 2026, Volume 35 Issue 3 Previous Issue   

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Research on American urban networks from the perspective of social network connections Yuxuan TIAN, Desheng XUE, Chen LIU 2026, 35(3): 1-19.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.03.20250007 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1467KB) ( )   As a digital platform, online communities have received close attention from scholars for their ability to represent and reshape urban spaces, but their potential to shape virtual spaces and represent intercity connections has been overlooked. In the digital age, a large amount of urban discussion content in online communities will become a new force for breaking down traditional regional spatial boundaries in intercity connections and related urban network structures. At the same time, the regional isolation of online communities will also become a supplement to regional urban theory in the digital age. Taking X platform as an example, this study combines content mining, word frequency analysis, and online ethnography to deeply analyze the characteristics of user generated content in online communities and its regional representation and reshaping of the connections between world cities in the United States. The results indicate that: ① In the process of information dissemination and content production in online communities, users' online behavior will unconsciously form an evaluation system for urban development and intercity connections based on virtual space through information flow; ② The network community in the digital age has redefined the concept of regional cities through the dynamic generation and dissemination of information flow, breaking through traditional geographical boundaries and forming a new type of urban network that combines reality and virtuality; ③ Under the influence of virtual spatial information flow, multiple cities in the United States have achieved "reterritorialization" by capturing "desires", resulting in significant ranking changes in degree centrality rankings.The key to future regional competition may depend on whether cities can complete the transformation from "spatial nodes" to "desire machines" in the "virtual real interaction". Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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A study of the inter-construction of geo-setting and Arctic Discourse in Post-Cold War Russia Zhigang WANG, Zhiding HU, Xiaoting YANG, Feifei GU 2026, 35(3): 20-36.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.03.20241136 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1712KB) ( )   The end of the Cold War marked a shift in international competition from military confrontation to discursive contestation, giving rise to critical geopolitics in the West. However, contemporary Western critical geopolitics overemphasizes textual and visual discourses. This focus tends to detach analysis from real-world contexts while neglecting the role of practice in shaping discursive meaning—thereby hindering efforts to broaden and deepen discursive studies in complex socio-political settings. Based on the contextualized perspective of geopolitics and the view of discourse as the unity of language and practice, this approach better captures the mutually constitutive relationship between discourse production and its specific context. Building on this, the paper establishes a framework for the inter-construction of geo-setting and discourse, and empirically examines how the geo-setting and the evolution of Arctic discourse in Russia have interacted across different stages. It is found that: ① Russia's geo-setting is an important basis for decision-making and practice, and constrains the production of Arctic discourse; ② geo-actors have a certain degree of autonomy in the production of discourse, and Russia's Arctic discourse is an expression of its identity, interests, and power in a way that unifies text and practice and affects the economic, military, political, and cultural interactions of the countries within and beyond the Arctic, which are in turn reflected in Russia's geo-setting; ③ the geo-actors adjust their discourses to the new geo-setting in order to seek identity and positive interactions among the geo-actors, thus forming a recursive mechanism for the mutual construction of the geo-setting and discourse. The contribution of this paper is to strengthen the connection between classical geopolitics and critical geopolitics, and to provide a path for critical geopolitical discourse research and domestic geo-setting research to converge; at the same time, it provides theoretical support for countries' participation in foreign affairs and the construction of their own discourse systems at the practical level. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Analysis of resource consumption characteristics and driving factors in African countries from the perspective of club convergence Jie LONG, Hanwei LIANG, Shuang CHEN, Liang DONG 2026, 35(3): 37-50.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.03.20240981 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1355KB) ( )   Given the increasing global tension between resource supply and demand, analyzing the consumption patterns and driving mechanisms of African countries, as a crucial part of global resource consumption, holds profound significance for optimizing global resource allocation and supporting the sustainable development goals in Africa. This study employs club convergence theory to systematically identify the convergence characteristics of resource consumption across 50 African countries from 1990 to 2022. Additionally, the STIRPAT model is utilized to comprehensively evaluate the complex impacts of multiple factors, including population dynamics, economic conditions, and technological advancements, on resource consumption patterns. The findings reveal that: ①Resource consumption in African countries exhibits significant heterogeneity, forming three convergence clubs and one divergent group, highlighting diverse consumption patterns. ②Specifically, Club 1 is characterized by a "high consumption-low efficiency" pattern, urgently requiring strengthened resource management and environmental protection measures. Club 2 follows a "moderate consumption-volatility" pattern, emphasizing the need for both economic policy stability and improved resource use efficiency. Club 3 represents a "low consumption-high efficiency" pattern, facing challenges in optimizing resource management strategies to achieve higher levels of sustainable development. ③The STIRPAT model further demonstrates that population growth, economic expansion, and increased industrial output are the main drivers of rising resource consumption in Africa, while technological progress serves as a crucial mitigating factor, effectively slowing the pace of resource depletion. This study provides a theoretical foundation for tailored resource management strategies for African countries and offers specific policy recommendations based on the characteristics of each club. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Evolution and influencing factors of the export trade patterns of cobalt resource in Africa Tingting GAO, Liran XIONG, Yang HU 2026, 35(3): 51-62.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.03.20241118 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1085KB) ( )   With the accelerated global energy transition, the strategic value of cobalt as a core material for lithium-ion batteries has become increasingly prominent. Africa, which is rich in cobalt resources, has become the focus of a new round of major power competition. Based on the data from the UN Comtrade Database, this study comprehensively employs GIS spatial analysis and complex network analysis to systematically examine the evolutionary characteristics of cobalt resource export trade in Africa from 2014 to 2023, focusing on trade scale, spatial patterns, and network structure. The study finds that from 2014 to 2023, Africa's cobalt resource export trade has generally shown a vigorous development trend. The trade pattern has shown phased evolution characteristics of scale fluctuation and contraction, spatial polarization and agglomeration, and complex network structure evolution, driven by three factors: ① The implementation of local mineral product processing policies by African cobalt resource countries extend the local mining industry chain, making cobalt oxide, a midstream product with higher added value become the main export product. However, increasingly stringent mining standards and environmental regulations lead to oscillating declines in export volumes. ② Shifts in international relations and market demand redirecting Africa's cobalt exports toward the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Major cobalt-consuming countries actively seek partnerships with African nations, reducing reliance on single markets. ③ Risks arising from security challenges in cobalt mining zones, geopolitical instability along transport corridors, and great power competition weaken the stability of trade linkages between African exporters and partner countries. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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The "Forest-Village-River-Sea" theory and its practices in Japan's agricultural green development Pengcheng SUN, Cancan LIU, Dong WANG 2026, 35(3): 63-76.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.03.20250092 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1257KB) ( )   In the context of global climate change and the agricultural green transition, enhancing the resilience of agricultural geographical systems and understanding the coupling of natural elements have become critical. The "Forest-Village-River-Sea" (FVRS) framework, proposed by Japan's Ministry of the Environment promotes regional synergy among forests, rivers, rural areas, and coastal zones. This study analyzes its theoretical underpinnings and 15 related agricultural cases, revealing strong alignment with human-land systems and agroecological governance approaches. While sharing core objectives with China's green development strategies, FVRS emphasizes ecological connectivity and cultural integration. The cases fall into three categories: ecological conservation with product certification, arable land and green value enhancement, and nature-based education with cultural revitalization. These promote a triple-cycle of materials, energy, and value between urban and rural systems, contributing to local resilience. Policy implications for China include: enhancing natural element integration in the east, promoting forest-field-village systems in central and northeastern regions, and adopting ecological restoration strategies in the west. To address barriers such as limited adoption of green technologies and weak cooperation, the study highlights the importance of preserving local ecological knowledge, phased introduction of green practices, and fostering cross-sectoral collaboration to strengthen systemic resilience. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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The impact of central city industries on the spatial distribution of intercity commuting population in the context of metropolitan integration: Qiang NIU, Fanzhe ZHU, Xiaoqian LIANG 2026, 35(3): 77-91.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.03.20240630 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (2254KB) ( )   Intercity commuting is an important indicator for measuring the level of metropolitan integration, and exploring the impact of industrial factors on the number and distribution of intercity commuting populations can help promote such integration. Using the Wuhan metropolitan area as a case study and based on multi-source big data, this paper examines the spatial distribution characteristics of intercity commuters and the industrial characteristics of the metropolitan area. Through regression analysis, it further analyzes the impact of various industrial factors in the central city on intercity commuting populations. The study reveals the following: ① The employment locations of intercity commuters in the Wuhan metropolitan area are primarily concentrated in the central urban districts, with most commuters being male and young or middle-aged. ② Industrial location has a positive attraction for intercity commuters, and convenient public transportation and well-connected road networks draw more commuters. ③ Among industrial types, consumer services exert the strongest attraction on intercity commuters, followed by producer services, while areas with high concentrations of labor-intensive and capital-intensive industries have limited appeal to this group. ④ Areas within the influence zones of major industrial parks attract intercity commuters, especially those with large-scale, high-innovation enterprises, which exhibit strong appeal to commuters. ⑤ In terms of gender and age, male commuters can tolerate long-distance commuting better than females, and areas with higher degrees of industrial specialization are more attractive to commuters under the age of 40. Producer services, however, show little appeal to commuters over 40. This study clarifies the mechanisms through which metropolitan industrial characteristics attract intercity commuters, providing theoretical support for a deeper understanding of commuting behavior within metropolitan areas. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Enhancing the resilience of China's manufacturing industry chain under the collaborative drive of the Belt and Road Initiative and new quality productive forces: Xinzao HUANG, Min HUANG, Jiafeng ZONG, Liqing XIE 2026, 35(3): 92-106.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.03.20241106 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1171KB) ( )   Based on the diversity of intermediate goods, taking the electronic information industry chain as an example, this paper used the HS6-digit customs data from 2015 to 2022 to describe the spatiotemporal evolution law of the resilience of China's manufacturing industry chain, and explored the theoretical logic of the Belt and Road, New Quality Productive Forces and the improvement of the resilience of China's manufacturing industry chain. The results show that: ① From 2015 to 2022, the resilience of China's electronic information industry chain showed a downward trend, and the resilience of the upstream and downstream industrial chains was higher than that of the midstream. ② The Belt and Road Initiative is conducive to improving the resilience of China's electronic information industry chain, and has a significant effect on different links and regions with medium and low marketization levels, but the improvement effect of regions with high marketization levels is not significant. ③ The Belt and Road Initiative has improved the resilience of China's industrial chain by accelerating the development of New Quality Productive Forces, which is still stable in the textile and garment industry chain. But there are differences in the intermediary role of physical factors and permeable factors on the two industrial chains. Therefore, it is necessary to further strengthen cooperation with regions along the Belt and Road, pay attention to the differences in the resilience of links of manufacturing industry chain, optimize the regional layout, and improve the resilience of China's New Quality Productive Forces and manufacturing industry chain. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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The geographical pattern and spatial heterogeneity of the influencing factors of China's livestreaming e-commerce economy: A study based on the MGWR model Yinghao ZHANG, Qiang WANG, Chao XU, Mingfeng WANG, Huilong WANG 2026, 35(3): 107-121.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.03.20240652 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1846KB) ( )   Based on the livestreaming e-commerce data of Douyin platform, the study explored the spatial patterns and evolutionary characteristics of the development level of China's livestreaming e-commerce economy (LSECE), and analysed the spatial heterogeneity of the factors affecting the LSECE by using a multiscale geographically weighted regression model. The study found that:① From 2020 to 2023, the high value area and high value agglomeration area of China's LSECE are both stable in the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta regions, meanwhile, the capital cities of central and western provinces and their peripheral areas gradually become the emerging growth point of LSECE, which shows a new spatial pattern and an evolutionary trend that is different from the traditional type of e-commerce. ②The analysis of the rank-order-size law shows that the agglomeration effect of core cities such as Hangzhou and Guangzhou in the LSECE is still significant, despite the decrease in the q-value of the Zipf index of the fitted curve. The spatial characteristics of the development of the LSECE as a whole show the evolutionary characteristics of both continued local proliferation and continued strengthening of core regional agglomeration. ③ The influence of the e-commerce environment, socio-economic and demographic conditions and other factors on the LSECE shows significant spatial heterogeneity, i.e. there is a scale effect. This study provides an important reference for understanding the spatio-temporal characteristics and influencing factors of China's LSECE as well as for formulating new e-commerce high-quality development strategies. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Study on the impact of digital infrastructure on pollution abatement of enterprises at administrative boundaries: Ze CAO, Xinran DENG, Lizhi CUI 2026, 35(3): 122-135.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.03.20240614 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (813KB) ( )   Taking the implementation of the pilot cities of "Broadband China" as a policy shock, and taking the inter-provincial border counties and non-inter-provincial border counties as the treatment group and the control group, a multi-period triplet difference model was used to study whether the level of digital infrastructure reduced the pollution emissions of enterprises in the inter-provincial administrative border areas, and to explore the mechanism of action between the two. The research finds that compared with the central area, enterprises in the border area have more severe pollution emissions. The level of digital infrastructure has an inhibitory effect on this effect. This result still holds after a series of robustness tests. The results of the mechanism analysis show that the level of digital infrastructure restrains the pollution discharge of enterprises in border areas by exerting the internal resource effect and the external regulatory effect, and forces enterprises to undergo green transformation, promoting the sustainable development of enterprises. The heterogeneity test results show that for non-high-tech enterprises and those located in the boundary areas of resource-based cities, the pollution reduction effect of digital infrastructure is more significant. This article expands the research on boundary effects and the environmental benefits of digital infrastructure, providing empirical evidence and inspiration for solving the problem of unbalanced regional environmental development in China and promoting high-quality development in boundary areas. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Evolution of spatial correlation network structure and influencing factors of new quality productivity in Chinese cities Qinsheng WANG, Ningning WANG, Jiaqi WANG 2026, 35(3): 136-149.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.03.20240411 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1342KB) ( )   New quality productivity represents the direction of a new round of industrial transformation and technological development and is an important driving force for promoting the realization of Chinese modernization. This paper studies 236 prefecture-level cities in China from 2012 to 2021, constructs a spatial correlation network of new quality productivity through a modified gravity model, and uses social network analysis to study the spatial correlation network of new quality productivity from the perspectives of the overall network, individual network, and core edge. Finally, the dynamic exponential random graph model is used to analyze the factors affecting the spatial correlation network of new quality productivity. The results show that: ① In terms of space, the club effect of the spatial connection intensity of new quality productivity is obvious, with the highest spatial connection intensity in the eastern region and the lowest spatial connection intensity in the western region. At the same time, as time goes by, the club effect becomes more and more obvious and stable. ② From the overall network, it was found that the spatial correlation network of new quality productivity has developed stably, and there are important nodes with dominant role in the network; from the individual network, it was found that the point centrality and betweenness centrality of municipalities and provincial capitals in the east and central regions are relatively high, while the proximity centrality of cities in the west and northeastern regions is relatively high, and they can quickly establish connections with other cities in the network. ③ Through core-edge analysis, it is found that the agglomeration effect of core cities in the central region is obvious, and the overall change of core cities is not obvious. ④ Through dynamic index random graph analysis, it is found that the spatial correlation network of new quality productivity is driven by endogenous effects, time effects and exogenous effects at the same time. Cities can form a development synergy through complementary advantages, and low-level cities will actively establish cooperative relations with high-level cities. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Community environment, parenting roles, and sense of security: An empirical study of parenting families in Beijing Li CHEN, Yunxiao DANG, Jiaxue SHANG, Ju HE 2026, 35(3): 150-165.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.03.20240507 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (971KB) ( )   As the willingness to have children among the population of appropriate childbearing age declines in China, creating a child-friendly community environment has become increasingly important. Based on data from the 2021 Beijing Community Safety Perception Survey, this study employed principal component analysis and multiple linear regression to analyze the impact of community environment and parenting roles on residents' sense of safety. The findings are as follows: ① Three principal components of the community environment are extracted, reflecting community cohesion, entrance/exit control, and environmental maintenance. All three components positively influence residents' sense of safety, with community cohesion having the greatest impact on children's activity safety, followed by environmental maintenance, while entrance/exit control has a relatively smaller impact.② Parents report lower safety perceptions regarding children's activities and property security compared to other groups, with no significant difference in nighttime safety perceptions. Female caregivers, such as mothers and grandmothers, and those with children aged 0~4 report lower safety perceptions than other parenting groups.③ The sense of safety among parents is primarily influenced by community cohesion and environmental maintenance, but the impact of these community factors on children's activity safety is weaker for parents compared to non-parents. Based on these findings, it is recommended to strengthen community cohesion and environmental maintenance while optimizing entrance/exit management and safety education to meet the needs of different resident groups. These measures will help foster a safe and inclusive community environment, supporting parenting families and promoting sustainable population development. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Eco-environmental regulation and conflict-dilemmas mitigation of renewable energy transition under the context of carbon neutrality Mengyao HAN, Peihao ZHU, Ze HE 2026, 35(3): 166-181.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.03.20240632 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1620KB) ( )   Along with the proposal of the dual-carbon targets and the deepening of energy transition, coordinating the relationship between the deployment and utilization of renewable energy and the top priority of biodiversity conservation, ecological environment, and habitat protection has become a key challenge. Based on the compilation of the policies, initiatives, and issues faced by different countries and organizations towards energy transition, this study identified the major ecological and environmental issues regarding different renewable energy sources such as hydropower, wind power, solar power, biomass, and geothermal, and summarizes the differentiated strategies and standard practices adopted by various stakeholders, parties, and organizations. From the results, ①large-scale renewable energy deployment may cause negative impacts such as land use, habitat fragmentation, and species threats while promoting low-carbon transition; ②Countries and international organizations carried out valuable explorations at the policy and practice levels, while still facing the dilemmas of policy fragmentation, poor sectoral coordination, and insufficient public participation; ③Systematic measures are urgently needed to design the top-level system planning, site selection, environmental impact assessment, and continuous monitoring; ④Strengthen the ecological and environmental regulation program comparisons by different countries/regions and different energy types, and explore the coordinated development pathways of renewable energy deployment and eco-environmental protection at the regional, national, and global levels. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics

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The impact of smart cameras on socio-spatial changes and emotional effects of migrant women workers Zenan WANG, Yan JIANG, Min WANG 2026, 35(3): 182-194.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.03.20240592 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (769KB) ( )   Taking the use of smart cameras by migrant women as an example, this paper uses semi-structured interviews, anthropological ethnography and text analysis to explore the socio-spatial transformation and emotional impact of digital technology on rural women in rural areas by using the theory of affective geography, and analyzes the spatial practice brought by smart cameras and the practice of using smart cameras to carry out new educational concepts. The research shows that the smart camera with remote monitoring, real-time dialogue, storage and sharing functions promotes the flow of rural women in the physical space, and at the same time constructs an emotional space, so that the original education level of the relatively low level of migrant women in the countryside can gain greater autonomy and freedom, and promote the urban-rural mobility of rural women. At the same time, women who have received advanced urban education concepts can change the plight of traditional left-behind children, so that the countryside is no longer a desert for family education, which is conducive to the solidification of declassification and further promotes the urban-rural mobility of the next generation. Based on this, from the perspective of emotional geography, this paper deeply understands the impact of digital technology on the emotional atmosphere and the physical environment and space of migrant women in the process of urban-rural migration, which is helpful to interpret the social psychological state of migrant women from the perspective of emotion, and provides a theoretical basis for the construction of digital villages. Figures and Tables | References | Related Articles | Metrics