Homeowner Organization and Government Response: Factors Affecting the Result of Homeowners’ Collective Action in Urban China

• In Event: 474 - Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 16. Movement Outcomes

Abstract

In recent decade, community disputes happened frequently in urban China. In these disputes, why some homeowners’ collective actions can success, while others fail? Using data collected from 191 cases of homeowners’ rights protection activities happened between1999 and 2012 in urban China, this study describes the situation and tendency of community disputes and homeowners’ resistances. Based on three theoretical dimensions of opportunity structure, organizational mobilization and action strategy, this paper examines the effect of five factors on the result of homeowners’ collective action, including the type of dispute, number of participants, rights-defending method, homeowners’ organization, and government response. The results show that: (1) In disputes with the government agencies, homeowners are less likely to protect their interests. (2) Mobilizing certain number of participants is conducive for homeowners to achieve a satisfactory result, but it does not mean that the more participants mobilized, the more likely they will succeed. (3) The non-institutionalized approaches or radical actions are not helpful for homeowners to realize their claims. (4)A well-functioned homeowners’ organization can significantly increase the success rate of homeowners’ collective action. (5)However, the positive effect of homeowners’ organization would be suppressed by government maladministration, such as improper intervention or administrative nonfeasance.

Author

• Zhiming Sheng, Shanghai University