Why are grassland protection regulations in China Elusive in enforcement? Study of X Banner, Inner Mongolia

This study adopts a process-oriented research perspective to explore the mechanisms of grassland law enforcement and assess its efficacy. Through an extensive investigation of enforcement practices in the grasslands of X Banner, Inner Mongolia, it posits that “weak enforcement” reflects an inadequate response by enforcers to societal expectations. The study reveals that enforcement capacity and various factors from overlapping domains in the enforcement field influence the enforcement process. The key elements identified as critical influencers include the dual leadership structure of the bureaucratic system, the conflict between local development objectives and law enforcement goals, the ineffective supervision model used by higher authorities, and the diverse interaction modes among different law enforcement targets at the social space level. These factors collectively exert a complex array of forces on the enforcement process, synergistically contributing to weakened enforcement. Understanding the mechanisms shaping “weak enforcement” helps in diagnosing the root causes of enforcement dilemmas, offering theoretical and practical insights for enhancing grassland ecology governance and law enforcement practices. • Grassland law enforcement Inefficiencies stems from bureaucratic and social factors. • Dual leadership, localism, and top-down guidance shape grassland law enforcement. • The spatial, target, and frequency dimensions of enforcement impact decision-making. • Fieldwork offers firsthand data on grassroots grassland law, bridging research gaps.