The China NonProfit Review Vol.14_CNPR article 4

Regulation of International

Human Service NGOs in China:

New Actors, Old Obstacles*

Zucheng Yu, Zhuoyi Wen, Haiqin Sun**

Abstract: Previous studies on INGOs in China mainly focus on the organizational strategies for negotiating legitimacy with local governments. However, INGOs not only negotiate for legitimacy but also give an impetus to a clearly articulated mechanism for local governments to implement regulation and institutional improvement. Based on two field studies conducted from 2015 to 2019, this study reveals INGOs are willing to comply with regulation and urge their Chinese partners to do so. China’s fragmented governance institution increases the difficulties in complying with the regulation. It’s worth noting that, public security organs, which have long been perceived as a political gatekeeper, increasingly play a larger role of coordinator and facilitator for a smooth implementation of the INGO regulation. Yet pragmatism remains the underlying political logic of regulation and implies an unequal power relationship between the state and INGOs. These findings enrich the understanding of complex interactions between the state and INGOs under the new regulatory framework in China.

Keywords: International NGO Law, fragmented governance, regulation, China

Please click the link to see the full article.E004-Zucheng Yu Zhuoyi Wen Haiqin Sun.pdf

* Acknowledgement: This article is partly funded by following grants: A Research on Innovative Model of Government Purchasing Services from Social Organizations, Key Project of Philosophy and Social Sciences Research, Ministry of Education, PRC. Difficulties and Solutions of Registration System of Philanthropic Organizations in China, China National Social Science Foundation. Research on Practices and Experiences of Grass-root City Governance in and out China, Research and Innovation Team Project of Young Teachers in Shanghai International Studies University.

** Zucheng Yu, School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Shanghai International Studies University; yusosei@shisu.edu.cn; Zhuoyi Wen, Lingnan University, Hong Kong; zhuoyiwen@LN.edu.hk; Haiqin Sun, Graduate Institute of Interpreting and Translation, Shanghai International Studies University; sunhaiqin@Shisu.edu.cn. The first two authors contributed equally to and share equal authorship of this article.