Environmental field transformation: a theory on local environmental protection changes in China

Abstract

Understanding social space is a prerequisite for analyzing local environmental protection. A new theorized social space–the environmental field - is proposed to analyze local environmental protection practices in China, as the existing three types (environmental state, community, and network) can miss the main logics, actors, or practices. First, the actors’ positions in the field, where environmental and political-economic capital operate, significantly affects their perceptions, practices, and power relations. Second, the field transforms–in terms of new power relations and orders–if certain actors have accumulated significant temporary successes from the struggles with others after rupturing moments. This theory is illustrated by Latent Transition Analyses of the two species of capital in County T, China, from 2014 to 2019. I then analyze selected actors to examine whether their environmental protection practices echo the LTA results and whether the theory could explain their practices and transformation. This theory can help practitioners understand and evaluate environmental protection in developing countries.