Negotiating service activism in China : the impact of NGOs’ institutional embeddedness in the local state
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Journal of Contemporary China
Publication Date
1-15-2018
Volume
Advance online publication
Publisher
Routledge
Abstract
The rise of government procurement has transformed the associational landscape in China. In many localities, local states have launched procurement programs to collaborate with NGOs, which in turn provide social services to community residents. While it has been argued that government funding shapes NGOs into compliant service providers, this article contends that state-funded NGOs are able to engage in advocacy through service delivery, a strategy known as ‘service activism’. By examining three NGOs in Guangdong Province, this article argues that NGOs’ success in service activism is determined by their degree of institutional embeddedness in the local state and the nature of their advocacy strategies. While both strongly or weakly embedded relationships can weaken the impact of advocacy, progressive strategies in sensitive issue areas can weaken collaboration and draw repression.
DOI
10.1080/10670564.2018.1410976
Print ISSN
10670564
E-ISSN
14699400
Funding Information
This research was made possible through generous funding support from the Swire Charitable Trust.
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Yuen, S. (2018). Negotiating service activism in China: The impact of NGOs’ institutional embeddedness in the local state. Journal of Contemporary China. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/10670564.2018.1410976