Resource dependency, perceived political environment, and ENGO advocacy under authoritarian rule

Abstract

ENGOs are an essential part of the institutional fabric of environmental governance. A key issue is how they participate in environmental policymaking through different strategies, including legal, administrative, and media advocacy. Using original data on Chinese ENGOs, this article examines how ENGOs’ dependency on government funding and donations, and their perceptions of the broader political environment, affect their engagement in policy advocacy. Our empirical analysis shows that a) government funding increases ENGOs’ engagement in all advocacy strategies, whereas donations reduce administrative advocacy; and b) the perceived political environment affects ENGO advocacy strategies by changing the dynamics between funders and ENGOs, triggering caution against political risks and increasing ENGOs’ dependence on donors. This study highlights how a restrictive political environment shapes ENGOs’ relations with the state and their philanthropic donors in environmental governance.