This
year I have been working with Professor Toepler to study the methods of NGO
repression in China and the coping strategies Chinese NGOs use to get around
them. I have been reading a wide variety of journal articles and continue to
look for both qualitative and quantitative studies that can give insight into
this issue.
I
am a Government and International Politics major with a Chinese minor and have
been lucky enough to have studied abroad in China and will soon be returning to
China to do so again. I am continuing to focus on Chinese studies in my class
and independent work and have a previous background in the policies of global
humanitarian work so this project was a perfect match for me.
Through
this project, I have had an opportunity to expand my areas of research and
learn more about Chinese politics and policy. The 2017 Overseas NGO Law
restricts the ability for NGOs to register in China, limits the ability to
receive foreign funding, and requires strict reporting. Despite this policy,
which is only one method of NGO suppression in China, civil society is
developing. Studying both the methods of repression and methods of coping, will
give insight into the strength and movement of Chinese civil society and the
country as a whole. I hope to continue my research next year and continue to
delve into the intricacies of Chinese policy and civil society in the future.
