Children and youth NGOs in China: Social activism between embeddedness and marginalization

What is it about?

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in China's authoritarian political system face a difficult environment. This paper explores how they manage to operate against the odds, and what the determinants are of being accepted by the Chinese Party-state or being shunned, closed down or even persecuted by it. It does so by looking at social organizations caring for society's weakest: children and youth.

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Why is it important?

Many different theoretical concepts have tried to explain the intricate relations between Chinese NGOs and the party-state. Our model of embeddedness versus marginalization of NGOs builds on these earlier concepts and develps a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of this relationship.