Governing at the Margins: Environmental Regulation and Green Social Work Practics in China

This book examines explores how environmental regulation reshapes rural livelihoods and governance through the lens of green social work. Based on participatory action research in a rural pig-farming community, the book examines how regulatory pressure, livelihood vulnerability, and grassroots collaboration interact at the margins of policy implementation. It highlights the role of green social work in mediating conflicts, fostering adaptive practices, and supporting community-based transitions under environmental constraints. By linking environmental governance with social work intervention and rural transformation, the book proposes “governing at the margins” as a framework for understanding adaptive, relational, and context-sensitive governance in contemporary China.