Lushan Earthquake: Early Practices of Government–Society Collaboration

The Lushan Earthquake marked more than a humanitarian emergency—it served as a pivotal moment in the evolving dynamics of state–society collaboration in China’s disaster governance. Compared to earlier disasters, notably Wenchuan, the response revealed a shift: government actors showed greater openness, NGOs operated with increasing professionalism, and new mechanisms for information flow and coordination began to take shape. This chapter traces how these changes unfolded across institutional settings, operational practices, and social outcomes. From the emergence of informal coordination platforms to differentiated roles between state and civil actors, and from improved psychosocial support to persistent inequalities in service delivery, the Lushan case offers insight into both the possibilities and limitations of collaborative governance under crisis conditions.