Clean Air at What Cost?: The Rise of Blunt Force Regulation in China

China's green transition is often perceived as authoritarian efficiency, achieved through top-down, blunt force solutions such as forcibly shutting down polluting factories. This book argues that this is a sign of weak state capacity and ineffective bureaucratic control, as widespread industry shutdowns are used to scare bureaucrats into respecting central orders rather than polluters.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 254 pages
Publication date: 25 January 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

China's remarkable green transition is often seen as a testament to authoritarian efficiency. In a relatively short period, the state has achieved significant improvements in air quality, suppressed dissent, and restructured local industries. Much of this progress was achieved through top-down, forceful measures, such as the forced closure or destruction of polluting factories. However, this book contends that China's reliance on blunt force regulation is actually a sign of weak state capacity and ineffective bureaucratic control. By integrating case studies with quantitative evidence, the book demonstrates how widespread industry shutdowns are employed, not to intimidate polluters into complying with pollution standards, but to intimidate bureaucrats into obeying central orders. While these measures have led to improvements in air quality across nearly all Chinese cities, they have come at a significant social and economic cost.

This book delves into the intricate negotiations, trade-offs, and day-to-day struggles of local pollution enforcement to unravel the reasons behind governments' adoption of such costly measures. It sheds light on the state's powers to govern society and challenges the conventional understanding of authoritarianism in the context of environmental governance.

In conclusion, China's green transition serves as a valuable case study for policymakers and scholars interested in understanding the dynamics of environmental governance and the challenges of transitioning to a more sustainable economy. By examining the use of blunt force regulation, this book offers a nuanced perspective on the state's role in shaping society and the implications of its actions for the future of environmental sustainability.

Weight: 382g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009152662