 Enhancing actor-centered power theory through actor typology: Insights from community-based conservation in ChinaJiacheng Zhao, Pei Zhang, Feng Tian and Weiping Shi Forest Policy and Economics, 2025, vol. 172, issue C Abstract: This study addresses a critical limitation of Actor-centered Power (ACP) theory in Community-based Conservation (CBC) initiatives: its tendency to rely on predefined roles for actors, which can obscure the complex dynamics within communities. By integrating ACP theory with Scharpf's actor typology, this research aims to provide a framework that better reflects the nuanced power relationships both within communities and between communities and external actors. Using a comparative case study approach, we analyze three CBC programs in China to test this framework. Our findings underscore two key contributions. First, the combined framework allows for a more precise identification and analysis of power relations, revealing how internal and external actor roles shape community cohesion and collective action. Second, we highlight the significance of informational power in fostering communities' development as collective actors, thereby enhancing CBC effectiveness. Keywords: Actor-centered power theory; Actor types; Community-based conservation; China (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:forpol:v:172:y:2025:i:c:s1389934125000048 DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2025.103425 Access Statistics for this article Forest Policy and Economics is currently edited by M. Krott More articles in Forest Policy and Economics from Elsevier |
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