Pluralism, Civil Society, and NGOs in China
"Pluralism or Civil society may NOT fit China."
BEIJING -- Zhang Changdong, Professor of Political Studies at Peking University, gave a talk in Wudaokou's famed Bridge Cafà - organized by ThinkINchina - to an audience of local and foreign students, expats, and professionals. The topic of the evening was the development, registration process, and influence of NGOs (Non-Governmental-Organizations) on China's policy making processes. [June 6, 2013]
NGO is a fascinating topic in China because in theory the concept of NGOs originated in the West and thus slightly betrays its own definition "non-governmental" in one-party authoritarian China: Each organization (with few exceptions, like the Bill Gates Foundation, we are informed) must find a governmental sponsor AND register with the unit of the Department of Civil Affairs at the appropriate level in order to register, which technically results in the creation of "Government Organized Non-Governmental Organizations" -- or GONGO. [Read full text here].
Professor Zhang Changdong and his research team estimate that there are 8 million NGOs operating in China .
