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Resolving Forest Property Rights Disputes in China: The Bailian Case
Author(s) -
Lin Zhen,
Dai Fan,
Sonnenfeld David A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/sres.2109
Subject(s) - china , dispute resolution , mediation , government (linguistics) , property rights , order (exchange) , dispute mechanism , alternative dispute resolution , conflict resolution , political science , public administration , law and economics , business , law , sociology , finance , philosophy , linguistics
Millions of forest property rights disputes have occurred in the course of collective forest tenure reform in contemporary rural China. Although most disputes were settled, some developed into serious, violent conflicts. This article examines such a case in Bailian Town, Fujian Province. Findings suggest that there were three essential factors in the failure of dispute resolution efforts in Bailan: lack of trust and collaboration between citizens and government; lack of channels for citizen participation in policymaking and dispute resolution; and lack of neutral and professional third‐party mediation. The Chinese government is now taking steps to innovate, strengthen and professionalize the country's conflict resolution system in order to address such limitations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.