Self-Organization Response in a Crisis: A Case Study of a Shanghai Community during COVID-19 in 2022

This study examines how self-organizing groups function during crisis response in China’s centralized system. Through case analysis of a Shanghai community during COVID-19, we investigate how emergent citizen groups establish legitimate relationships with administrative structures, what mechanisms enable their adaptability, and how key actors facilitate coordination. Integrating complex adaptive systems and institutional theories, we propose that self-organizing groups emerge through resource integration and social mobilization when crisis demands exceed governance capacity; develop as collective entities bridging formal administration and communities; and rely on key actors balancing formal rules with local solutions. Our findings reveal a five-phase evolution where mutual aid groups developed specialized capabilities while maintaining institutional legitimacy. This suggests how self-organizing groups can comply with institutional frameworks while enabling innovation in centralized systems, offering insights for emergency management practice.