The Making of a Chinese NGO: The Research and Intervention Project on Domestic Violence

Abstract

In studying the rise of nongovernment organizations (NGOs) in the People's Republic of China, this article focuses on the Domestic Violence Project, a popular association that was changed into a formal NGO. Although China practices restrictive policies & regulations that discourage the formation of NGOs, new popular organizations are mobilizing in such areas as women's rights & human rights. As economic decentralization has taken segments of the population from the public sector, the Chinese Communist Party has lost some influence. At the same time, globalization has allowed international NGOs to interact with local community organizations. Although the Domestic Violence Project must work under the regulations of Chinese politics, it has tied itself to international forces & domestic interests to the extent that it has some autonomy & can actually influence the state's policy & legislative priorities.