Agency of Change: Community Organizations and Environmental Change in Meinung, Taiwan

摘要

Focusing on a recent case of local environmental movement in Taiwan, this paper examines the roles of community organizations as agents in facilitating local progressive environmental and social change. Based on participant observations and in-depth interviews, this paper argues that grassroots organizations perform the multiple roles of establishing social legitimacy for collective actions, providing alternative channels for public participation, serving as nexus of collaboration, and engaging in the construction of discourse coalition. It suggests that design and planning practice needs to involve and recognize community organizations as important agents and partners in promoting sustainable environmental change.