Public Participation, Civil Society and Environment Protection in China: A Comparative Study of Environmental Cases

This article examines the participation of ENGOs and individuals to show the interaction between government and civil society in the area of environment protection in China. It shows that there is two types of participation in terms of environmental protection, that is, NGO-driven and mass-driven participation. A comparative case study indicates their common attributes as well as differences. The participation can affect government´s decisions and has a positive function to environment protection. At the same time, public participation is greatly shaped by the government and its political system.