The third sector in collaborative planning: Case study of Tongdejie community in Guangzhou, China

Abstract

Collaborative planning, along with the socioeconomic transition of China, has considerable potential in transforming Chinese planning practice. However, given the strong government and limited public participation in Chinese planning practice, introducing the third sector (TS), which can play a crucial role in the collaborative planning process, is necessary. In this study, we first briefly review the connotation of collaborative planning with particular focus on its discussion in China and clarify the characteristics of the TS. We then analyze TS participation and mechanism in collaborative planning practice. A case study of a local TS, Counseling Supervision Committee (CSC) in Tongdejie, a low-income residential area in Guangzhou, China, is applied to interpret the TS's role. Data are gathered from text analysis, virtual ethnography, in-depth interview, and questionnaire survey with a total of 775 valid samples on the field and online through our participation of the two rounds of Tongdejie community planning and our four surveys within thirteen years. Our observation through the empirical study are as follows. First, a diverse-in-member and neutral TS is the foundation for connection bridging and consensus building, although multi-stakeholders had participated in the plan-making process. Second, CSC had built relationships among stakeholders and performed supervisory and evaluation roles throughout the collaborative planning process and the late-stage management of Tongdejie area. Third, CSC had helped implement a fair collaborative planning to complete the institutional design of the local planning. On the basis of these findings, we argue that institutionalizing TS participation can further promote collaborative planning practice.