Solidarity mobilization and citizen participation effectiveness in urban area: The case of community recycling program

Abstract

Mobilizing citizens in urban governance benefits both theory and practice. However, there are growing challenges to the mobilizing effects of incentives like material rewards and coercion. This study originally introduces solidarity mobilization as a disincentivized governance approach, aiming to assess its impact on enhancing citizen participation effectiveness in urban community recycling programs. Building upon previous social mobilization theory, a comprehensive solidarity mobilization framework is established. A novel measurement of participation effectiveness by using average progress rate is included in the analysis. Through multi-level regression by using the survey data collected from 1611 citizens across 40 communities in eastern, central, and western China, the study reveals that increased exposure to face-to-face guidance, multi-sector monitoring engagement, information dissemination, and the involvement of social activists significantly enhances recycling participation effectiveness among citizens. These findings indicate the potential of fostering solidarity relations among citizens, without resorting to coercion or material incentives, in driving behavioral change aligned with policy objectives. Consequently, policymakers are encouraged to incorporate solidarity mobilization strategies and adapt urban policies to bolster coproduction effectiveness in different contexts.