The policy and governance implications of the evolution of government-environmental NGO relations in China since the 1990s
Date
2020
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
In recent years, government-ENGO relations in China have evolved to a point where collaboration is now evident. For example, the government is now purchasing a variety of services from ENGOs, such as pollution monitoring and projects to promote sustainability. This research raises two questions regarding this trend: after 20 years of strong government control, why have government-ENGOs relations undergone substantial change? Can a model of this evolution explain the shift from authoritarian to collaborative relationships and enable researchers to evaluate the implications of this change for policy and governance? ☐ To answer these questions, this thesis develops a conceptual framework by borrowing from the historical institutionalism research literature. A model of evolution in Chinese government-ENGO relations is explored that proposes three closely interrelated stages of development over the past three decades: Environmental Authoritarianism (1990s), Consultative Authoritarianism (2000s to the early 2010s), and Collaborative Regulation(the early 2010s to present). ☐ This thesis attempts to illuminate, test, and apply this three-stages conceptual framework by using two case studies. The first case focuses on the implication for policy development while government-ENGO relations evolve in China. Water pollution control is used to explore policy implications. A second case study is centered on the interplay between the government and two specific ENGOs: Friends of Nature (FON) and the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE). In this case study, the governance implication of the evolution in the relations is examined. ☐ From power hierarchy to a “persuasion-response” consultation mode, to collaboration, power sharing, and innovation, such changes in governance raise possibilities about social participation in shaping China’s environmental policy, understanding, and action. Central to this research is the use of empirical evidence gathered through case study method to establish the usefulness of the conceptual framework in examining the evolving role of ENGOs and the government in China’s environmental policy and governance. This research tries to fill a gap in current understanding of government-ENGO relations in China. It challenges a common view of government-NGO relations in China mostly on authoritarianism, shedding new light on the evolution of the relations and their implications for policy and governance.
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Keywords
Nongovernmental organizations, Environmentalism, Policy making