Participatory Collaborative Networks in Policymaking: The Formation and Evolution of China’s Environmental Standard-Setting Network

Environmental standards provide concrete, measurable benchmarks for policy, serving as the fundamental basis for effective formulation and implementation, and their uniform application is critical for advancing governance objectives while preventing inter-policy conflicts. From a sustainability perspective, the institutional process through which environmental standards are jointly developed is an important component of environmental governance, as it shapes the integration of knowledge and the coordination of regulatory responsibilities among participating organizations. Understanding the structural configuration of these collaborative relationships is therefore relevant to the design of more inclusive and coordinated arrangements for long-term environmental policy implementation. This study examines the formation mechanisms of inter-organizational collaborative networks in China’s environmental standard-setting process, focusing on differences in network structure across distinct periods. Focusing on the convening organizations (i.e., chief-editors), we try to answer two questions: What factors influence a convener’s choice of partner organizations? And how do the characteristics of participatory environmental standard-setting networks differ across various periods? To do so, this study empirically investigates the network using Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGM). The network transitioned from a simple, homogeneous configuration to a complex structure characterized by pronounced hierarchical and geographic homophily, a distinct core–periphery pattern, and prevalent reciprocal and clustering mechanisms. This evolutionary trajectory underscores the interplay between convener strategy and endogenous network dynamics. These findings provide empirical evidence for the study of policy network dynamics in China, offer new perspectives on theories of participatory governance, and have practical implications for policymakers seeking to design and manage effective collaborative systems for environmental governance.