Contentious publicness and visibility management: Tracking the environmental public interest litigation movement of the Chinese NGO “Friends of Nature” (2011–2022)

Abstract

This article draws on the theoretical framework of contentious publicness, integrated with the concept of legal standing, to track the movement of environmental public interest litigation (EPIL) initiated by the Chinese non-governmental organization (NGO), Friends of Nature (FoN). The results showed that by utilizing the technological infrastructure provided by Weibo, FoN effectively brought the EPIL debate into the public sphere and media spotlight. The sensitive capture of changes in the policy environment enabled FoN to develop a flexible campaign repertoire that maintained the campaign’s continuity and visibility. The results also showed that Weibo blurred the boundaries between the private and public spheres. By merging personal reputation with the movement’s practices, FoN underscored the legitimacy and importance of the organization’s efforts. Moreover, the immediacy and anonymity offered by Weibo facilitate fluid transitions between protest spaces, effectively addressing asymmetrical visibility challenges.