Beijing Homeowners‘ Activism Driven by Shifting Priorities, New Research Finds
BEIJING – A new study published in The China Quarterly in September 2013 reveals that leaders of homeowner activism in Beijing often operate with a complex web of motivations that evolve over time, challenging conventional understandings of collective action. Researchers Yongshun Cai and Zhiming Sheng, through intensive fieldwork in Beijing residential communities, found that activist leaders aren’t driven by a single, static purpose, but rather a shifting prioritization of objectives.
Traditionally, scholarship has attributed leadership in collective action to factors like personality, moral responsibility, community pressure, self-interest, and feelings of institutional exclusion. Though,the research suggests a more nuanced reality. Leaders’ motivations can be multiple and fluid, impacting thier behavior and the overall cohesion of the group.
The study, appearing in issue number 215 of the journal (pages 513-532, ISSN 0305-7410, DOI 10.1017/S0305741013000726), highlights how the re-prioritization of goals by leaders can alter group dynamics and interactions among members. This challenges the common assumption that activists are solely motivated by a singular, unwavering cause. Published by Cambridge university Press, the findings offer valuable insight into the complexities of social movements within China’s unique political landscape.
