Publishing Pollution Data in China: Ma Jun and the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs
A civil society activist in any country expects challenges, but with an authoritarian government the role can carry extra burdens. This case examines the creation and evolution of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE). In early 2014, however, IPE prepared to take on a new group of polluters: state-owned enterprises (SOEs). IPE had earlier successfully pressured global brands to persuade their offending suppliers to clean up production. But SOEs were a different category—many had powerful supporters in high positions—national, regional and local. Use this case to give students grounding in the realities of civil activism in authoritarian societies.
Case number:
CCC-14-0006.0
Category:
Sustainable Development Cases
Topics:
international sustainable development, China, environmental activism, civil society
Teaching resources:
Epilogue,
Teaching note