Work

Understanding collaborative water governance in local China: The role of collaborative strategy in shaping network structures

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The complexity and fragmentation of water governance drive local governments to collaborate with diverse policy actors, forming collaborative networks. This paper compares two pilot cities in China, Dongguan and Ezhou, to explore how policy actors’ collaborative strategies affect network structure. Through social network analysis and data from interviews and surveys, we clarify the role of collaborative strategies in shaping network structure. Results show that clear responsibility assignment greatly impacts policy actors’ decision-making in collective actions. Different collaborative strategies lead to distinct network structures. In Dongguan, a polycentric collaborative strategy creates a centralized-brokered structure with multiple influence centers and high interconnectivity. In Ezhou, a centralized collaborative strategy dominated by governmental actors results in a single-centered structure with other actors having limited roles. This study enriches the literature with empirical evidence on how collaborative strategies influence network structure, offering insights for enhancing water governance through better network management and clearer responsibility allocation.

Source: Chinese Public Administration Review

DOI: 10.1177/15396754251327845

Authors: Chen Huang, Qiao Wang, Hongtao Yi

Institutions: Huazhong Agricultural University, Florida State University

Language: English

Topic: Water Governance and Infrastructure

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Sustainable cities and communities, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,650