A Study on the Method of Public Participation Based on Discourse-Power Model Among Different Stakeholders: A Case for Avoiding NIMBY Risks of Waste Transfer Stations in Nanjing, China

Promoting sustainable development of the world is a common of different country. Because of sustainable development and public participation are inextricably linked, to promote sustainable development, it should to enhance the public participation.

The “NIMBY” phenomenon which means that not in my back yard is an increasing prominent urban problem in China to threat sustainable development. NIMBY risks are the kinds of negative external effects of urban facilities. However, in China, with its rapid urbanisation rate, city services still need to be optimised, and many public facilities must be established. Thus, the remission of avoiding NIMBY risks is an important action which can help to improve social equality and justice. NIMBY conflicts are a type of social conflicts among different stakeholders including governments, experts, planners, developers, media, residents from different locations, etc. To solve it, we need to coordinate the interests among different stakeholders to achieve a win-win situation.

This study constructs a method of public participation based on discourse-power model among different stakeholders for avoiding NIMBY risks and also the related approaches to realize them in Nanjing. Firstly, it classifies the different interests groups basing on the spatial zoning of different negative impact areas and the services area of waste transfer stations by using GIS-based spatial quantitative analysis approach. Secondly, it introduces the concept of discourse power, establishes a discourse-power model based on different interests groups, and analyses the game relationship among them. Thirdly, it builds a mechanism of distribution and implementation of discourse power, to clarify different discourse power among different stakeholders. This study attempts to improve an ordered public participation on avoiding NIMBY risks to guarantee a scientific, participatory, and operational urban governance.