This paper contributes to scholarship on the role of state-reinforced self-governance, in averting the tragedy of urban commons by looking at China’s community regeneration program. The scholarly works on self-governance’s effectiveness are peppered with diverse arguments suggesting that: (i) the authority may destroy self-governing institutions of users, stay away so that users can develop self-governing institutions for management; (ii) the state-reinforced self governance allows a financially, technologically, statutorily, and politically strong state to assist community members to manage their commons. Thus, this article examines the management of the urban commons in China through a community regeneration program, explores the mechanism of state-reinforced self-governance, with the aim of improving the effectiveness of public participation.
Ostrom’s Social-Ecological System (SES) approach, is empolyed to illustrate how user self-governance occurs with strong state involvement. Community regeneration in China has undergone a process from the transformation of simple physical space to improving a comprehensive community environment. Studies demonstrate that urban commons management within community regeneration has been subject to failure or underperformance when the level of public participation were relatively low. Community regeneration involves a wide range of diversified and complex individuals and groups, while multiple factors affecting participation effects. Given this, the case of China is unique in that the state reinforces user self-governance and does not become involved in local operational activities, despite offering substantial assistance.
This article involved a review of the extant literature, a conceptual analysis, and participant observation, as well as extensive visits to the C Community in S City, China. To obtain information from the varied sources, the research team members volunteered to assist residents with their car parking activities, and interviewed local officials, property managers, and practitioners on numerous occasions. We also attended several decision-making meetings arranged by the communities.
The most important lesson that China’s state reinforced self-governance system conveys is that, when a state provides the resource users with financial, technological, statutory, and political support without undermining user autonomy, users can develop much stronger self-governing institutional arrangements that are needed.
