Environmental NGOs' role in expanding social spaces – diversification with Chinese characteristics: a case study of ENGOs' opposition to the Nujiang dam in China's Yunnan Province1

1. All direct quotes in this paper, unless otherwise indicated, are from members of the anti‐dam coalition who will remain anonymous.

Abstract

This study examines the role of Chinese environmental non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) in a recent campaign against the construction of a dam on the Nujiang River in the south‐western province of Yunnan. By examining how these organizations have promoted debate, participation and people‐centred development, it concludes that Chinese NGOs are increasingly contributing to the emergence of a pluralistic civil society and no longer restrict their role to uncontroversial service provision. This case reveals that co‐operation between NGOs and the government does not necessarily contradict the notion of civil society. If we want to understand China's emerging civil society, we have to transcend simple state/society dichotomies and acknowledge the growing complexity of the interests involved.

摘要: ：此份报告在于探讨中国的环境NGO近期在反对云南怒江流域建坝活动中扮演的角色。 通过分析此类组织在推动辩论、民众参与和以人为本发展中所采取的方式， 本文认为， 中国的环境NGO正超越非争议性的服务模式， 并为一个多元化公民社会的形成做出越来越大的贡献。 此份个案分析突出强调了NGO与政府的接近并不必然与公民社会的理念相冲突。 本文表明， 如果我们希望理解中国正在崛起的公民社会， 我们就不能仅仅将中国的NGO限定在国家‐‐社会二元对立的概念框架中， 而应认识到各种利益关系间不断增加的复杂性和多样性。

Keywords:

• China
• environmental NGOs
• civil society
• Nujiang
• social spaces

Notes

1. All direct quotes in this paper, unless otherwise indicated, are from members of the anti‐dam coalition who will remain anonymous.

2. Figures according to: Zhao Shukai, ‘NGO supervision mechanisms urgently await innovation’ (Minjian Zuzhi Jianguan Jizhi Jidai Chuangxin), Southern Weekend, 4 October 2007, p. 5.

3. Based on the 2000 National Bureau of Statistics Household Survey, Source: ADB, May 2004, Poverty Profile of the People's Republic of China, p. 121. US$1 = 8.08320 CNY.

4. This World Heritage Site includes parallel sections of the Nujiang, Lancangjiang (Mekong) and Jinshajiang (the name of the upper reaches of the Yangtze).

5. On the increasingly pluralistic policy processes involved in dam building in China, see Mertha (2008).

6. For an example of the dam proponents' response, see ‘a direct attack on fake‐environmentalist dam opponents’ (zhiji wei huanbao fanba renshi), transcript of a speech held by Fang Zhouzi at Yunnan University on 8 April 2005. Available from: http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/25509/43690/43694/ 3310458.html

7. For a comparison of anti‐dam campaigns in China, Australia and the US, see Mertha and Lowry (2006).