Wang, Ying; (2024) Environmental Social Governance of Plastic Pollution in China: Grass-root Actions in Relation to Different Systemic Conditions. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

The research conducted in this thesis made a significant contribution to the analysis of China's efforts to tackle plastic pollution, with a particular focus on the role played by civil society actors. Plastic pollution, especially plastic debris in the marine environment, has been portrayed as one of the most pressing environmental problems we have recently faced. One of the most significant challenges to plastic pollution management is that plastic debris in the natural environment originates from a diffuse array of land-based and marine-based sources. Therefore, this thesis argues that the global combat against plastic pollution needs not only scientific tools but also the contribution of governance studies to facilitate cooperation among the considerably varied actors and their perceptions. Although it is still controversial which country takes the primary responsibility for global marine plastic pollution, China is indeed the world’s largest producer of plastic products. Using the research method of a case study, this thesis focuses on China as a valuable setting to develop a context-based analysis on the roles and functions of civil society actors in plastic pollution management. Research in this thesis is based on evidence collected from interviews, field visits, policy documents, local news, and published literature in both English and Chinese. This thesis concludes with the argument that due to the blurred boundaries between the state and society and the predominance of state power in China's integrated system, it is unrealistic to create systems of governance that rely on a completely independent and critical civil society. The research presented in this thesis highlights the need for more diverse theoretical models to explain the roles and relationships of different civil society actors with those in other sectors. Rather than solely examining the activities, preferences, capacities, and rules of civil society, policy analysis should expand to include local and national political and economic systems, as well as institutional settings, to comprehend the role and significance of civil society in a particular community or country.

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