Civil society organizations in China: Navigating the local government for more inclusive environmental governance

2020 ◽  
pp. 0920203X2090811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Gao ◽  
Jessica Teets
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Provincial Government ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Implementation Phase ◽  
The Government

This article examines how civil society organizations navigate local government to secure more inclusive environmental governance. Based on an in-depth case study of water governance in Zhejiang Province between 2012 and 2018, we find that Green Zhejiang, a civil society organization, exercised informal power to hold the local government accountable based on two strategies: mobilizing citizens to collect information on water pollution and strategically leveraging the authority of provincial government to find citizen-focused solutions. Most existing studies foreground one stage of the policy process – advocacy in the agenda-setting phase, policy entrepreneurship during the design phase, or monitoring during the implementation phase; however, we examine strategies of civil society organizations throughout this policy lifecycle. With this approach, we are able to analyse the strategic interactions between different levels of the government and civil society organizations and locate the positive outcomes and limits under the current governance system. Despite policy successes, Green Zhejiang still acts informally, which limits long-term effectiveness. However, incorporating citizens into public administration in a meaningful way requires sharing policymaking power formally, and thus far, local governments are only willing to share power in an ad hoc and informal way. More institutionalized citizen participation is necessary to develop innovative solutions to the severe environmental degradation in China.

scholarly journals Mechanisms to improve citizen participation in government and its administration

2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 216-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Fourie
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Central Theme ◽  
The People ◽  
Problems And Solutions ◽  
The Government

Citizen participation on any level of government is timeless. The dynamics and the relationships of citizen participation on all levels are unique, due to the fact that many problems and solutions have their roots in the activities of local government and its administration. Furthermore the extension of democracy to all spheres of society and to all tiers of the administrative hierarchy, have been a central theme of the democratisation process in South Africa. The notion of "bringing the government to the people" is important, not only in strengthening civil society, but also in mobilising the population to implement the programmes of reconstruction and development necessary to transform the civil society.

Turns of Direct Democracy at the Local Level in Latvia

2022 ◽  
pp. 91-114
Author(s):  
Lilita Seimuskane ◽  
Maris Pukis
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Government ◽  
Current Level ◽  
Study Participation ◽  
The Government

The chapter provides analysis of obstacles for the introduction of direct citizen participation in the decision-making process at the local self-governments in Latvia, as well as intents of national government to widen participative democracy by formalization of consultation mechanisms. Within the scope of this study, participation is seen as an interaction form of relationship between citizens and a local government. The highest form, according to Arnstein's gradation theory of a ladder of citizen participation, refers to the participation degree called partnership, delegated power, and is described by Teorell as a citizen voice in the government. Situation and perspective of local government referendums are analysed. Consultation is implemented at the level by involving the residents in the work of local government commissions and implementing public deliberations. Administrative territorial reform, performed by 2021 elections, will decrease the number of local governments to a third of their current level.

scholarly journals Open Government and Citizen Participation: Perceptions between Civil Society Organizations and Government.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar Alejandro Ruvalcaba-Gomez
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Research Question ◽  
The State ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Open Government ◽  
Public Officials ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
The Government

The concepts of citizen participation and open government (OG) are increasingly being used by politicians, government officials, and civil society organizations (CSOs). However, there are differences about how the concepts are assumed and used by different social actors. The objective of this research is to analyze the perception of citizen participation and open government from the perspectives of two fundamental sectors: CSOs and government using the State of Jalisco, Mexico as a case study. The research question is: How are citizen participation and open government perceived in the State of Jalisco by civil society organizations and the government? This research presents statistical results of a survey given to members of civil society and public officials involved in OG actions. The results show a huge gap between the perceptions of government officials and CSOs; this affects the relationship between the two sectors, which can impede development and implementation of public policies.

scholarly journals DINAMIKA IMPLEMENTASI PENYELENGGARAAN PEMERINTAHAN DAERAH

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Namlis
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Provincial Government ◽  
City Government ◽  
Reform Era ◽  
The People ◽  
The Government ◽  
The City

Structuring of local government has been through various regulations and dynamics in its implementation, since the era of independence until the reform era. The substitution and refinement of a law to its refinement brings implications for the arrangement of powers and affairs undertaken by local governments. Aksentuasinya grapple on what to do in the local government to provide services and realize the welfare of the people. Finally up to the Act No. 23 of 2014 is strengthening the balance of authority between the provincial and district / city government and community involvement in the development process. Previously become the government authorities kew Kabagan / the city then became the affairs and authority of the provincial government.  

scholarly journals The Moderating Effect Of Regional Indpendence On The Effect Of Financing Policies, Capital Expenditure And Transfer Fund Towards The Performance Of Local Governments

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 5239-5251
Author(s):  
Niko Silitonga Et. al.
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Capital Expenditure ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Provincial Government ◽  
Government Performance ◽  
Financing Policies ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Relationship

The performance of local governments is one of the measuring tools in assessing whether the government has carried out the mandate given by the community to manage their regions properly and measurably. This study purpose to determine the effect of financing policies, capital expenditures and transfer funds on the performance of local governments with regional independence as a moderating variable in the provincial government in Indonesia. This study uses a quantitative research model using secondary data. The data in this study were processed using the Moderating Regression Analysis (MRA) method supported by the IBM SPSS and Microsoft Excel programs as support software with data analysis techniques in the form of classical assumption tests as well as R2 test, F test, and t test. The population in this study are provinces that have consistently published annual local government financial reports during 2014-201. This study used purposive sampling technique and obtained samples of 33 provinces according to predetermined criteria. The results of this study indicate that the financing policy proxied by net revenue has no effect on local government performance, while capital expenditure and transfer funds have a significant negative effect on local government performance, regional independence strengthens the relationship between capital expenditure and transfer funds to local government performance, meanwhile regional independence does not have a moderating role between the relationship between financing policies and local government performance. This study uses data from provinces in Indonesia, it is suggested that further research should add district / city level local governments with an extended period of time

scholarly journals Consumer Committees in Tensions? A Interpretive Case of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 9-22
Author(s):  
Devendra Adhikari ◽  
Rajan Binayek Pasa
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Shared Responsibility ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Social Transformations ◽  
The People ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The Government ◽  
Releasing Process

The people of Nepal have witnessed several political/social transformations in the country, which have resulted in the restoration of peace, the promulgation of the new constitution. The restructuring of the country into 753 local units has led to the substantive devolution of the 22 power power/jurisdictions from the center to the local governments. In this scenario, the local governments implement their development plans through consumer committees by mobilizing the local beneficiaries. The purpose of this paper is to explore the difficulties faced by these novice committees in getting development funds from the local governments even in urban cities. The paper is based on a qualitative study with an interpretative case study design. The study has revealed that the chaos of bureaucratic hurdles to receive the development budgets from the Metropolitan office is demoralizing the community volunteers at local levels. Local government should facilitate the fund releasing process to the consumer committees by easing the rules and regulations. There must be a shared governance system between the local government and beneficiaries so that both parties feel a shared responsibility to achieve any development goals. Likewise, the government should have the lead governance towards the banking institutions. Banks are the mediators between the government and the consumer to make the fund-releasing process becomes swifter and less complicated. The findings of this study could be useful in framing appropriate plans/policies for the local governments, to encourage the community people to participate as volunteers in local development projects.

Rights of the Child

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asha Bajpai
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
International Law ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Legal Definition ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
The Government ◽  
Definition Of

The chapter commences with the change in the perspective and approach relating to children from welfare to rights approach. It then deals with the legal definition of child in India under various laws. It gives a brief overview of the present legal framework in India. It states briefly the various policies and plans, and programmes of the Government of India related to children. International law on the rights of the child is enumerated and a summary of the important judgments by Indian courts are also included. The chapter ends with pointing out the role of civil society organizations in dealing with the rights of the child and a mention of challenges ahead.

scholarly journals Reflections on the Relationship between the Government and Civil Society Organizations during the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Israeli Case

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hillel Schmid
Keyword(s):  
Health Economic ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Interest Groups ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Strategic Behavior ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Power Dependence ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract The paper analyzes the relations between the government and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel. The paper presents the inconsistent policy of the government, which has been influenced by various interest groups and the very limited financial support allocated to CSOs during the health, economic and social crisis. The paper describes the government’s alienated attitude toward the CSOs as well as the reasons for that behavior. Special attention is devoted to the government’s misunderstanding of the mission and roles of CSOs in modern society, especially at times of crisis and national disasters. The paper also analyzes the organizational and strategic behavior of CSOs toward the government, which has also contributed to the alienated attitude of the government toward them. I argue that relations between CSOs and the government should be based on more trust, mutuality, and understanding on the part of both actors in order to change power-dependence relations, and that there is a need to establish more cross-sectoral partnerships for the benefit of citizens.

scholarly journals Research on Modern Marine Environmental Governance in China: Subject Identification, Structural Characteristics, and Operational Mechanisms

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4485
Author(s):  
Qi Chen ◽  
Huijuan Yu ◽  
Yezhi Wang
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Pressure System ◽  
Operational Mechanism ◽  
The One ◽  
Process Coordination ◽  
Marine Environmental

Under the guidance of modern environmental governance concepts, there have been profound changes in the subject, structure, and operational mechanism of the modern marine environmental governance in China. This paper first classifies the subjects of modern marine environmental governance in China, as well as their relationships; analyses the structural characteristics from the three levels of rights, society, and region; explores the operational mechanism; and builds the framework of the modern marine environmental governance system in China. Both the central and local governments act as the leaders of the modern marine environmental governance system in China, and there have been many new changes in their relationships. On the one hand, the interest and goals of the central and local governments have gradually converged under the pressure system. On the other hand, local governments follow the principles of comprehensive governance regarding the coastline and collaborative cooperation is gradually beginning to occur. Different governance subjects are interrelated and intertwined to form a complete modern marine environmental governance structure, which includes the following three levels: the governmental power structure; the social structure, which involves collaboration between multiple entities; and the regional structure, which involves land-sea coordination in environmental governance. These structures each play their parts in the overall process of the marine environmental governance’s institutional arrangements, process coordination, and feedback adjustments and ultimately constitute a dynamic and complete modern marine environmental governance operational system.

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