Theory and Practice of Civil Society in China
by
Jia Xijin
Room 516B, Mingli Building, Tsinghua University. Beijing 100084, P.R. China

Theme addressed: Transnational approaches to civil society research and its application. Issues and topics: “Civil Society” is a word with strong institutional meaning of Western culture context. What does “civil society” mean in China? What phenomenon and organizations does it described? And why such a word raises recent years in Chinese context? The article overviews the institutional connotation of the word civil society in Western history, and explores its potential in observing Chinese society. Based on this, the article analyzes the form, characteristic, current status of civil society in China, mainly focused on the development of Non-profit Organizations. Finally, it concludes the characteristics of Chinese civil society, and gives some suggestions on its development in the future.

Literature background: The theory of civil society becomes more and more popular in the last decade. It reflects the rapid growing of the Third Sector other than government and market sectors. The development of NPOs and civil society in China is an extremely remarkable issue for both research and practice of civil society. First, China is in transition from totalism to a self-governing society. We can see the developing process of civil society in such a transition period. Second, civil society is a word planted in the Western culture. It’s use in China raises much interests on comparative studies. Exploring the theory and practice in China will contribute to both a deep understanding of civil society and its practice in the world.

Empirical and Theoretical methodology: The article is based on both empirical and theoretical research. The theory of this paper mainly refers to civil society. It overviews the history of civil society, and analyses its deep connotation. Methodology of this part is mainly literature review.

Empirically, analysis of NPOs and civil society in China, including their form, characteristic, current status, and development, is based on primary studies. Methodology includes field research, case studies, questionnaire, and also literature review.

Main points of the paper: The development of civil society in China was paid much attention in recent years.

Civil Society is a new concept in China. In it’s original meaning, civil society reflects the growth of Non-profit Sector as a power balance of government and private sectors. The institutional connotation of civil society includes three aspects: limited government, market economy, and rule of law. In institutional words, civil society is based on the idea of maximization of individual rights.

China lacks of the basic institutional context for civil society in terms of limited government, market economy, rule of law and individualism. The raise of theory of Civil Society is a combined production of the western culture spread and reform effort in China.

Non-profit organization (NPO) is essential of civil society. In China, Non-profit Sector has some special characteristics compared with the western countries. Generally, we can see three main types of “non-profit organization” in China: The Civilian Group registered at Ministry of Civil Affairs which is the officially authorized NPO in China; The Grass Roots NPOs which are not registered at Ministry of Civil Affairs for the strict restriction in registration condition but act as NPOs; and NPOs in transforming such as transformed institution, village and street self-governing commission, housing owners commission,etc.

Chinese civil society has the following characteristics: First, it bears the tasks of both the market economy development and social independence from the government. Second, the market economy developed fast than the social space. Third, the process of social independence is pushed by the government.

The mid-1990s sees fast development of Chinese civil society, with three evident trends: Firstly, the de-centralization trends become more and more clear. The legislation and policy conditions for NPOs are improved step by step. Secondly, emergence of private non-profit organizations shows developed charity in China. Thirdly, grass-root NPOs become more and more active, showing their advocacy functions.

Evidence indicates that there’s a growing civil society in China. The improvement of legislation and policy environment for NPOs, the forming of a limited government, and the development of rule of law are key factors for a better civil society in China in the future.

Key Words: Civil Society, Non-profit Organizations, Institution, Chinese Study.