NPOs vs. Local Sustainable Development in China Taiwan: A Case Analysis of Taichung City

摘要

The actions of global sustainable development have gradually moved from the level of central planning down to the level of local execution since the 1990s. Therefore,local capacities in sustainable development administration will play a critical impact on the progress of sustainable development. From the Agenda 21 to the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development,it is apparently found that local capacities are contingent on the relationship of dialogue mechanism,communication mechanism,and collaborative partnership between local governments and local civil societies. In order to advance the progress of local sustainable development,local governments not only shall continuously advocate the ideology of sustainable development through education and dialogue so as to broaden citizens' field of vision for carefulness,but also have to conduct a good parynership with local civil societies in the spirit of equality,reciprocity and trust. This paper is devised to scrutinize sustainable development in Taichung City from the viewpoint of non-profit organizations. The main research method is in-deep interviews with local NPOs. It is found that although the city government has initiated a series of actions to compile a local Agenda 21,but constrained to less commitment from the mayor,malfunctioned mechanism,deficiency in activities of education,training,and advocacy for the ideology of sustainable development,and without the collaboration of civil society and partnership with local community,the actions toward sustainable development in Taichung City is pretty weak. And it is concluded with that the city government could recognize its own finite capacity and reintegrate the collaborative partnership with civil society and local community so as to advance Taichung City sustainable development. It is also expected that local citizens and civic associations could function well in assisting and participating local's activities towards sustainable development,accompanying the city government to crystallize the vision of local sustainable development.