Abstract
This paper examines the limits of environmental activism in People’s Republic of China (PRC), an authoritarian one-party state. During the past few decades China has undergone rigorous economic development resulting in a series of negative environmental externalities. In response, Chinese citizens have begun to resist many government development projects that come at the expense of their local environment. In their struggle, Chinese civil society must navigate through several barriers that the PRC places on dissent in order to avert challenges to their regime. This paper examines successful and unsuccessful strategies that civil society uses to achieve the aim of environmental protection. It also examines how the PRC responses to these protests in what could become a potentially explosive issue. Inorder to examine this issue at the local regional andnational levels this paper analyzes three case studies on significant environmental conflicts within China. Several policy prescriptions are issued in order to suggest ways that both the government and civil society can more easily facilitate environmental discourse.
Recommended Citation
Labate, William
(2012)
"The Politics of Environmentalism in Modern Day China,"
Proceedings of GREAT Day: Vol. 2011, Article 22.
Available at:
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/proceedings-of-great-day/vol2011/iss1/22