The Analysis Of Environmental Collective Action Under The Framework Of Social Combustion Theory

In the transition period of China, frequent occurrence of mass incidents challengeslocal government’s ruling idea and method to deal with problems. Therefore, to study thecause factors、development process of mass incidents and to explore the solutions tothem is of great significance，which will promote current social stability and people’sharmonious internal relationship. This paper selects the“PX incident” happens in2012October25to29in Zhenhai of Ningbo city in Zhejiang province as the analysis case,which applies the social combustion theory of social physics as the research framework.Two research methods----literature research and case analysis are both applied in thepaper. During making the description of the incident’s causes and process, the authorstrive to reveal the reason (burning), disposal methods, social public opinion (fuel) andgovernment’s handing method (fuse) of the current Chinese environmental groupsincident. By raising the problems, the author attempts to find out appropriatecountermeasures for the government to deal with mass incidents. Thus, to reveal practicelogic of mass incidents in China completely, the author will integrate te description of thedynamic nature process of PX incident" into the analysis of the static structureframework, which makes each static elements in the analysis full of dynamic eventdescription.Under the framework of social combustion theory,the author will use the collectivebehavior theory to analyze the PX incident. Concluded that the cause of the event are:combustion materials-class differentiation, the government credibility loss, GDP is thehighest of the list without considering people’s feeling, the influence of similar events,democratic consciousness and environmental consciousness enhancement, limitation ofinterests appeal channels;Accelerant--public opinion spread caused by micro-blog,rumors spread; Light temperature-the government and the local media’s nonfeasance,misjudgment of event properties and press people by tough measures. Governmentshould take a multi-pronged approach to deal with the similar incidents, such as adjustthe interest distribution mechanism to alleviate the contradiction of the gap between richand poor, open real information to boycott rumors spread, use peaceful negotiationmeans to solve mass incidents, etc. The author put each factor in the development of thewhole event into a solid theory framework, and analysis of each factor contains author’spersonal opinions, which will inject new blood to the mass incidents research. Besides,putting forward the scientific, practical and comprehensive countermeasures to deal withmass incidents is conducive to maintain social stability and achieve social harmony.