Environmental Conflict Management: A Comparative Cross-Cultural Perspective of China and Russia
Publisher: Post-Communist Economies
Author(s): Arthur L. Demchuk, Mile Mišić, Anastassia Obydenkova, and Jale Tosun
Date: 2021
Topics: Assessment, Governance, Weapons, Waste, and Pollution
Countries: China, Russian Federation
How are environmental conflicts managed in China and Russia? Both states are territorially large non-democracies affected by environmental degradation due to industrialisation and economic growth, and both are characterised by collectivist culture resulting from pronounced historical legacies and Communism. Our analysis of China indicates the important role played by local governments often supporting local people; and role of the negotiation between the central and the local governments. In contrast, in Russia local governments ally with businesses involved in environmental conflicts; or tend to support central government view on the conflict. However, the environmentalists’ movements in Russia are better connected to external (international) support. In contrast, China exhibits more isolation of environmental movements that are less influenced by Western environmentalism, if at all. The paper aspires to bring further insights in understanding of the public environmentalism and management of environmental conflicts in Eurasia.