Fare Thee Well, Chinese Civil Society?
Date
2017
Authors
Australian National University. Australian Centre on China in the World
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Canberra, ACT : Australian Centre on China in the World, The Australian National University
Abstract
For many years now, Chinese civil society has
been the focus of considerable expectations
for scholars, journalists, and politicians
all over the world. There has been great
eagerness to salute every small victory by
Chinese NGOs and activists over the powerful
party-state as evidence that the authoritarian
tide was finally receding in China, and that
grassroots forces were stepping up to take a
new role in Chinese politics and society. In
light of these high hopes, it is not surprising
that the recent troubling news coming from
China has been acutely disappointing and
has dampened people's enthusiasm. With
the arrest of yet another activist, the airing
of yet another public confession, the closure
of yet another NGO working for the weak
and disenfranchised, and the passing of yet
another repressive law, the world has come
to view Chinese civil society as if it were on
its deathbed. For sure, an idea of Chinese
civil society is ailing. But, if we consider
the swiftness with which the party-state
has tamed these forces (at least for the time
being), was this civil society ever there in
first place? Or were we simply projecting our
hopes onto a handful of Chinese grassroots
organisations and activis ts?
While we mourn the death of an ideal, it
is imperative that we overcome our sorrow
to look at the momentous changes that are
currently taking place in the realm of Chinese
civil society. In this issue of Made in China,
we offer a series of perspectives on these
developments.
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