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The socio-political bases of willingness to join environmental NGOs in China: a study in social cohesion

Munro, N. (2013) The socio-political bases of willingness to join environmental NGOs in China: a study in social cohesion. International Journal of Social Quality, 3(1), pp. 57-81. (doi: 10.3167/IJSQ.2013.030105)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3167/IJSQ.2013.030105

Abstract

This article examines willingness to join China’s emerging green movement through an analysis of data from the China General Social Survey of 2006. A question asked about environmental NGO membership shows that whilst only one per cent of respondents claim to be members of an environmental NGO, more than three fifths say they would like to join one in future if there is an opportunity, slightly less than one fifth reject the idea, and the remainder are don’t knows. The paper tests explanations of willingness to join based on instrumentality, ideology, social identity and social capital networks. It finds that instrumental considerations dominate, although ideology, identity and networks contribute incrementally. The conclusion considers the usefulness of willingness to join as an indicator of social cohesion within the framework of a wider effort to evaluate social quality.

Item Type:	Articles
Keywords:	China, environmental NGOs, civil society, social cohesion, social quality
Status:	Published
Refereed:	Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:	Munro, Dr Neil
Authors:	Munro, N.
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology J Political Science > JQ Political institutions Asia
College/School:	College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Politics
Journal Name:	International Journal of Social Quality
Publisher:	Berghahn Journals
ISSN:	1757-0344
ISSN (Online):	1757-0352
Copyright Holders:	Copyright © 2013 Berghahn Journals
First Published:	First published in International Journal of Social Quality 3(1):57-81
Publisher Policy:	Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Funder and Project Information

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
58803	1	Rising Powers: Unequal Powers, Authoritarian Powers, Unstable Powers?	Stephen White	Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)	ES/J012688/1	SPS - POLITICS
56765	1	Performance evaluations, trust and utilization of health care in China: understanding relationships between attitudes and health-related behaviour	Jane Duckett	Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)	ES/J011487/1	SPS - POLITICS

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Deposit and Record Details

ID Code:	75041
Depositing User:	Dr Neil Munro
Datestamp:	14 Feb 2013 09:33
Last Modified:	23 Sep 2021 08:16
Date of first online publication:	2013
Date Deposited:	14 December 2015