Managing Uncertainty: The Politics of Governing China’s Civic Sector

1. Managing Uncertainty: The Politics of Governing China’s Civic Sector Nara Dillon Civil Society and Nonprofits in China Harvard University January 22, 2011

2. The Civic Sector under Different Regimes:

3. Post-Communist Comparisons:

4. Comparing Post-Communist Civic Sectors (2007)

5. Dimensions of Change: Liberalization: Autonomy Control Legalization: Rule of Law Rule by Command

6. How liberal are registration laws? • Czech Republic: most liberal • Registration standards minimal • Russia: moderate • Prohibits groups that threaten national interest • Belarus: authoritarian • Prohibits groups that threaten national interest • High registration standards: membership, location • Limits groups to one political jurisdiction • China: most authoritarian • Prohibits groups that threaten national interest • High registration standards: membership, finances • Limits groups to one political jurisdiction & one activity • Dual registration

7. How far has legalization gone? • Czech Republic: rule of law • Standards and procedures are clear, the process is automatic • China: rule of law improving • Standards and procedures for social organizations, nonprofits & foundations are more clearly specified • Sponsoring agencies have wide discretion • Re-registration reviews: 1990-91, 1998-99 • Russia: rule of law deteriorating • New discretion in defining national interest • Selective legal enforcement: tax audits, fire inspections, etc. • Belarus: rule by command • Standards and procedures increasingly vague • Backdoor political intervention: office space • Re-registration campaigns: 1999, 2005 • Selective legal enforcement: tax audits, fire inspections, etc. • Ban unregistered organizations

8. Post-Communist Civic Sectors 2000-2009