departmental bulletin paper

Departmental Bulletin Paper

Text

Osaka Human Sciences. 2021, 7, p. 55-73

The Introduction of life－environmentalism to China and its special development

Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

English

Text

2021-03

Japanese environmental sociologists advanced Life-Environmentalism based on investigations of the environment of Lake Biwa, emphasizing that we should pay attention to the lives and positions of local residents to solve environmental problems. This is a representative theory of environmental sociology in Japan that could be applied to many environmental problems and cases. This paper reviews the application and development of the theory of Life-Environmentalism, especially the “Position of Residents” in China, which arose and was developed in Japan. In particular, the authors have focused on the unique“position” in case studies of environmental problems in China. In order to determine the cause of this unique “position,” it is necessary to contrast it with the historical stages of the development of Chinese environmental sociology. Doing so shows that the development of Chinese environmental sociology itself has promoted Life-Environmentalism in China. Moreover, China’s environmental sociology pays attention to the macroscopic social structure: China’s social transformation and special political and economic integration system are typical examples. These classic theories have had a great influence in Chinese environmental sociology. Thus, when using Life-Environmentalism to discuss environmental problems in China, Chinese environmental sociologists tend to focus on government and policy when considering environmental issues, which constitutes what the authors call their unique “position.” The formation of Chinese environmental sociology theory has been shaped by its social background, which has also influenced Life-Environmentalism for two reasons in particular. First, because of the urban and rural binary system, residents in rural China are in a complex position between “residents” and “producers.” Second, China’s environmental policy is government-led, placing a limit on the subjectivity of farmers (residents) who are the subject of environmental pollution. Under the special social environment in China, it is overidealized to discuss only the experiences of residents and communities without considering policy, government power, or social mechanisms. Therefore, the authors suggest that even though Life-Environmentalism has changed slightly in China, it may be better suited to the actual situation of environmental problems.

10.18910/78940

78940

The Introduction of life－environmentalism to China and its special development

Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

English

2021-03

Osaka Human Sciences

7

55

73

https://hdl.handle.net/11094/78940

10.18910/78940

https://doi.org/10.18910/78940