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Defining Chinese Nongovernmental Organizations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

Qiusha Ma
Qiusha Ma*
Affiliation:
East Asian Studies Program, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, USA
*
2 Correspondence should be directed to Qiusha Ma, East Asian Studies Program, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, 44074, USA; e-mail: qiusha@hotmail.com
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Abstract

In interpreting the current surge of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in China, scholars have mainly applied western concepts of civil society, corporatism, and the third sector. These perspectives, however, are not sufficient to account for the importance of China’s particular historical and political culture. This paper discusses the development and future of NGOs in the context of current scholarly research as well as the role of China’s historical and current sociopolitical situation.

Résumé

Résumé

En interprétant le mouvement actuel des Organisations Non Gouvernementales (ONG) en Chine, les universitaires ont largement appliqué les concepts occidentaux de la société civile, du corporatisme et du tiers secteur. Ces perspectives ne sont cependant pas suffisantes pour rendre compte de l’importance de la culture historique et politique particulière de la Chine. Cet article traite du développement et du futur des ONG dans le contexte de la recherche universitaire actuelle ainsi que du rôle de la situation historique et socio-politique actuelle de la Chine.

Zusammenfassung

Zusammenfassung

Bei der Interpretation der gegenwärtigen Welle der Entstehung von Nichtregierungsorganisationen (NGOs) in China haben die Gelehrten hauptsächlich westliche Konzepte der Bürgergesellschaft, des Korporatismus und des Dritten Sektors angewandt. Diese Perspektiven genügen jedoch nicht, um die Bedeutung von Chinas spezifischer historischen und politischen Kultur darzustellen. Dieser Aufsatz erörtert die Entwicklung und die Zukunft von NGOs sowohl im Kontext aktueller akademischer Forschung als auch die Rolle von Chinas historischer und aktueller sozio-politischer Situation.

Resumen

Resumen

Al interpretar la oleada actual de organizaciones nogubernamentales en China, los investigadores han aplicado principalmente conceptos occidentales de sociedad civil, corporativismo y el tercer sector. Sin embargo, estas perspectivas no son suficientes para explicar la importancia de la cultura histórica y política particular de China. Este artículo trata el desarrollo y el futuro de las ONGs en el contexto de la actual investigación académica asi como el papel de la actual situación socio-política e histórica de China.

Keywords

ChinaNGOscivil societycorporatism

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , June 2002, pp. 113 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 International Society for Third-Sector Research and The Johns Hopkins University

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