Network Structure and Collaborative Performance among Environmental NGOs in China

Although the significance of NGO cooperation has been recognized in various studies, little is known about how NGOs in authoritarian states engage in collaboration, and few studies examine the outcomes of NGO collaboration from a network perspective. This article utilizes a questionnaire-based method to gather data on 103 environmental NGOs (ENGOs) in China. First, we confirm the existence of collaborative networks among NGOs in 19 provinces and municipalities in China. Then, informed by the social capital theory, we investigate the impact of bridging and bonding structures on network outcomes. The results show that bridging network structures can promote the efficiency and effectiveness of environmental NGOs in collaboration. In contrast, while bonding structures can also improve cooperative efficiency, they are not always effective. Overall, this study highlights the crucial role of central actors in collaborative networks, enriching existing literature and providing valuable insights for policymakers and NGO managers. © 2025 the author(s), published by De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston