In recent years China has been remarkable in achieving extraordinary economic transformation, yet without fundamental political change. To many observers this would seem to imply a weakness in Chinese civil society. However, though the idea of democracy as multitudes of citizens taking to the streets may be attractive, it is simultaneously misleading as it disregards the nature of political change taking place in China today: a gradual shift towards a polity adapted to a pluralist society. At the same time, one may wonder what the limited political space implies for the development of a social movement in China. This book explores this question by focusing on one of the most active areas of Chinese civil society: the environment.

China’s Embedded Activism argues that China’s semi-authoritarian limitations on the freedom of association and speech, coupled with increased social spaces for civic action has created a milieu in which activism occurs in an embedded fashion. The semi-authoritarian atmosphere is restrictive of, but paradoxically, also conducive to nationwide, collective action with less risk of social instability and repression at the hand of the governing elite.

Rich in case studies about environmental civic organizations in China, and written by a team of international experts on social movements, NGOs, democratization, and civil society, this book addresses a wide readership of students, scholars and professionals interested in development, geography and environment, political change, and contemporary Chinese society

Peter Ho is Chair Professor of Chinese Economy and Development and Director of the European Research Council (ERC) Project on Land Policy and Administration in China (RECOLAND). Ho has extensively published on institutions and property rights, sustainable and rural development, poverty and social inequality, and environmental policy and management in China. He published widely in the leading SSCI/SCI-rated journals of Development and Environmental Studies with impact factors ranging from 3.0 to 8.25. Furthermore, Peter Ho has published over 10 books amongst which with Oxford University Press, Routledge, and Blackwell Publishers. Ho is concurrently seconded to the Ford Foundation in Beijing, where he oversees the grant-making in the program on sustainable development in China.

Prior to taking up his current post Peter Ho has served as Chair Professor for nearly 10 years. First, as Chair Professor of Internatio nal Development Studies and Director of the Centre for Development Studies at Groningen University (1648), and subsequently as Chair Professor of Chinese Economy and Development at the University of Leiden (1575) and Director of its Modern East Asia Research Centre.

In recognition of his scientific achievements, Prof. Ho was awarded the prestigious Independent Research Grant as Consolidator by the European Research Council (ERC). This highly competitive prize of 1.5 million Euros targets the top scientists within the European Union. The ERC Review Panel noted about Prof. Ho that he: “is a world renowned scholar with an impressive set of publications and awards to his name” while his achievements and publications “show great intellectual capacity and creativity” (ERC Review Report, 2011).

Peter Ho has initiated and supervised large-scale projects with a total budget of over 4.5 million Euro. His projects have been personally supported by the Vice-Chairman of the National People’s Congress of China and the Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation, and were visited by the Chinese Vice-Minister of Land and Resources, and the Dutch Minister of Spatial Planning and Environment.

Peter Ho acts as advisor to members of the Chinese government and the Dutch Cabinet, including the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He has served on various commissions as a scientific advisor for the OECD, the EU, international corporations and banks.