Politics remains at the core of China studies despite the growth of independent social, geographic and economic fieldwork data. Zhang and Barr's contribution represents one of the latest additions to the growing number of books on Chinese environmental politics and a welcome update of work on environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs).
The focus here is the non-static nature of the relationship between ENGOs and the Chinese government. This study is based upon 32 interviews within 14 Chinese organizations that the authors undertook from late 2011 to mid-2012. The work generally represents a study of ENGOs relationship to the Chinese government rather than a holistic study of environmental movements or changes in governmental policy.
In part, the book updates many issues that were addressed previously. In their second chapter, “Who is to blame?”, there is a discussion of bird-watching societies which the authors note is one type of group that historically opened up conversations between society and the government. Bird watching and bird protection go back decades in the Japanese and Taiwanese environmental movements – in the Japanese case to their initial efforts at environmental cooperation with China. Zhang and Barr also include a section that discusses the continuing conflict of interests between Chinese ENGOs and foreign-based ENGOs. The foreign ENGOs continue to offer their support. However, they bring their own agendas that sometimes conflict with the goals of Chinese ENGOs, impeding the locals' ability to work with the government.
Amongst the case studies discussed is the story of Apple Corporation, which the authors analyse in terms of supply-chain environmental responsibilities. Here we are reminded how ENGOs do their best to walk the line between accomplishing their work and not crossing the government. While the discussion about a need for governmental agency sponsorship or “mother-in-law” connections is detailed, it suggests little has changed in this area in the last couple of years.
The authors also provide important updates that show how civil society is able to have an environmental impact. The slaughter of wild yak in Hoh Xil (Kekexili) in north-western Tibet made famous in the 2004 film Wild Yak Brigade remerges within the context of a brewery advertising campaign. While criticism by businessman/activist Wang Zhen and others of a 2011 promotional journey through the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve did not deter China Resources Snow Breweries from its campaign, it impacted upon Snow Breweries' plans. This demonstrates that state-owned enterprises, in collusion with government officials, can no long fully ignore environmental regulations due in good measure to activists like Wang Zhen who use the power of the internet to influence public opinion. Another example which represents a new use of the internet in environmental activism is the use of the website Taobao to raise salaries for NGO staff. The argument that activists do not mind the government taking credit for their work was also a point that I have not seen mentioned previously.
I found the chapter describing how the government is trying to maintain its role in environmental matters most interesting. The fact that to some degree being green helps secure promotions for government officials means that officials increasingly take the environment into consideration. At the same time it appears that society in general is taking ENGOs more seriously and that ENGO data collection is also improving. While this book is not transformative of our views on Chinese ENGOs and their role in the environment, it does represent an important update. It is an easy read and important for those trying to keep up on the relationship between civil society and the environment in China. I will be adding it to my course reading list.
