Confidence and Trust in Public Institution Natural Hazards Management: Case Studies in Urban and Rural China

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the extent to which urban and rural residents trust grassroots-level institutions and how this might affect community resilience to environmental change in China. It focuses on the commitments of institutional actors and their capacities to manage natural hazards and coordinate the community's response. Semistructured interviews were conducted with megacity (Tianjin) and remote village (Wolong) residents in China. We found that public confidence in grassroots-level institutions is limited due to inherent constraints on resources and power. Residents of Wolong tend to recognize the commitment and role of those institutions in connecting individuals with one another, whereas their urban counterparts in Tianjin remain skeptical. Issues of solidarity might account for this difference. These findings will have implications for state–society cooperation and disaster risk comanagement in both urban and rural China.

本研究旨在探讨城市与农村居民信任基层机构的程度, 及其如何影响中国的社区对于环境变迁的恢復力。本研究聚焦制度行动者的承诺, 及其管理自然灾害和协调社区回应的能力。我们对于巨型城市 (天津) 和偏远的农村 (卧龙) 居民进行半结构式的访谈。我们发现, 由于资源与权力的内在限制, 公众对于基层机构的信心是有限的。卧龙的居民倾向认可这些机构在串连个人方面的承诺与角色, 而其于天津的城市对照组, 则对此保持怀疑。团结的议题, 或许能够解释此般差异。这些研究发现, 将同时对中国城市及农村中的国家—社会合作与灾害风险共同管理有所意涵。

Esta investigación trata del alcance con el que residentes urbanos y rurales se fían de las instituciones de nivel básico, y de cómo podría esto afectar la resiliencia comunitaria frente al cambio ambiental en China. La investigación se enfoca sobre los compromisos de los actores institucionales y sus capacidades para manejar riesgos naturales y coordinar la respuesta de la comunidad. Se llevaron a cabo entrevistas semiestructuradas con residentes de una megaciudad (Tianjin) y una lejana aldea (Wolong) en China. Hallamos que la confianza pública en las instituciones básicas es limitada debido a reservas inherentes a los recursos y al poder. Los residentes de Wolong tienden a reconocer el compromiso y papel de esas instituciones para conectar a los individuos entre sí, en tanto que sus contrapartes urbanas de Tianjin permanecen escépticas. Cuestiones de solidaridad podrían explicar esta diferencia. Estos hallazgos tendrán implicaciones para la cooperación estado-sociedad y el comanejo de riesgos de desastres tanto en la China urbana como en la rural.

Key Words:

• China
• hazards management
• institutional trust
• natural hazards
• public confidence

关键词:

• 中国, 灾害管理, 制度信任, 自然灾害, 公众信心。

Palabras clave:

• China, manejo de riesgos, confianza institucional, riesgos naturales, confianza pública

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate logistic support provided by the Wolong Special Administration Region and the Tianjin Normal University for the data collection in Wolong and Tianjin, respectively.

Funding

This research was supported by funding from the “Trust Fund in Support of Reconstruction in the Sichuan Earthquake Stricken Areas” established by the Development Bureau of Hong Kong SAR and the Griffith Climate Change Response Program of the Griffith University.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alex Y. Lo

ALEX Y. LO is an Assistant Professor in the Kadoorie Institute at the University of Hong Kong, T.T. Tsui Building, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. E-mail: [email protected]. His research interests include political economy, public perception of environmental change, public engagement in environmental planning, and management.

Lewis T. O. Cheung

LEWIS T. O. CHEUNG is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Sciences of the Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong, China. E-mail: [email protected]. His research interests focus on sustainable tourism with particular emphasis on nature-based tourism in protected areas, environmental education, and environmental conservation.

Anna Ka-Yin Lee

ANNA KA-YIN LEE is an Assistant Professor at the Centennial College in the Domain of Social Sciences, Hong Kong, China. E-mail: [email protected]. Her early publication works focused on major aspects of contemporary environmental problems and policies in China. Her research revolves around the core themes of urban governance, urban development, sustainable development, and cultural heritage conservation.

Bixia Xu

BIXIA XU is a Research Assistant in the Griffith School of Environment at Griffith University, QLD 4222, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]. Her research interests include water resource planning, Chinese cultural tourism, and sustainable tourism planning under the challenge of climate change.