ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the research method and the research strategy are elaborated in detail. The research question established in this book relates to how environmental conflicts are governed in China and why particular strategies are applied by local governments to govern such conflicts. A qualitative case study is a better option to answer this type of question than quantitative approaches, as it can provide in-depth knowledge about how a specific outcome or process occurs. Combined application of three different case study strategies – single case study, comparative case study, and QCA – makes it possible to draw robust conclusions about the explanation of government strategies in environmental conflicts. Single case studies can provide in-depth knowledge about a case. They reveal how shifts in government strategies during environmental conflicts can be explained and how individual conditions shape the application of, (or shifts in), government strategies. A limitation of single case studies is that their conclusions cannot be generalized. The comparative case study is a good option to remedy this. However, comparative case studies cannot be used to study how combinations of conditions influence the application of government strategies during environmental conflicts. Consequently, QCA is a good option.
