Advocacy groups in China's environmental policymaking: Pathways to influence

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2020-05, Vol.261, p.109928-109928, Article 109928
• Main Author: Popović, Emina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: China; Government; Health Policy; Policy Making; Public Opinion
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109928

Through in-depth and comparative analyses of three policy cases, this study investigates whether citizen and special interest groups in China can affect environmental policymaking and, if so, what are the effective strategies to influence the policy outcomes. Process tracing is used to examine advocates’ policy preferences, their lobbying strategies, developments through the process and the final policy outcomes. The findings imply that whereas direct interactions with policymakers are not a necessary condition for advocates to influence decision-making, public campaigns and creating strong public pressure are effective practices that can lead to government responsiveness. Beside about authoritarian environmental policymaking, the findings offer important insight into the complex relationship between advocates’ activities, public opinion, and policy responsiveness." •Advocacy groups’ success in environmental policymaking in China is affected by public opinion.•Ensuring public support is a more effective way to affect environmental policymaking than interacting with policymakers.•Citizen groups in environmental politics seem to be more contingent on public support than are special interest groups.•Policymakers consult various policy actors and express demand for their resources.•Public demands to improve environmental protection can affect policymaking.