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The authoritarian logic of regulatory pluralism: Understanding China's new environmental actors

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  • Benjamin van Rooij
  • Rachel E. Stern
  • Kathinka Fürst

Abstract

Over the last decade, Chinese citizens, judges, and prosecutors have started to take action against industrial pollution, pluralizing a regulatory landscape originally occupied by administrative agencies. Regulatory pluralism here has an authoritarian logic, occurring without the retreat of party‐state control. Under such logic, the party‐state both needs and fears new actors for their positive and negative roles in controlling risk and maintaining stability. Consequently, the regime's relation to regulatory pluralism is ambivalent, shifting between support and restriction. This prevents a development of a regulatory society that could bypass the regulatory state. Theoretically, this special edition argues for a subjective definition of regulation in a context of pluralism. Moreover, it finds that regulatory pluralism need not coincide with a decentring of regulation. Finally, it highlights how entry onto the regulatory landscape affects the non‐regulatory roles of new actors, creating unintended consequences for regulatory pluralism.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin van Rooij & Rachel E. Stern & Kathinka Fürst, 2016. "The authoritarian logic of regulatory pluralism: Understanding China's new environmental actors," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 10(1), pages 3-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:reggov:v:10:y:2016:i:1:p:3-13
    DOI: 10.1111/rego.12074
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xun Cao & Qing Deng & Xiaojun Li & Zijie Shao, 2022. "Fine me if you can: Fixed asset intensity and enforcement of environmental regulations in China," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(4), pages 983-1004, October.
    2. Kou, Po & Shi, Jianhua, 2024. "Dynamic evolution of China's government environmental regulation capability and its impact on the coupling coordinated development of the economy-environment," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    3. Na Li & Benjamin Rooij, 2022. "Law Lost, Compliance Found: A Frontline Understanding of the Non-linear Nature of Business and Employee Responses to Law," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(3), pages 715-734, July.

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