Civil Society and Sustainable Development in China

Dr. Baocheng Liu, Director
Over the past three decades, economic growth has been the centerpiece for Chinese policymakers. With intensified external interaction along with rising social problems at home, China begins to realize that a harmonious society has to rest on a combination of economic marketization and polio-socio democratization.
By neo-liberal approach, human society is composed of three forces, i.e. state, market and civil society. An authoritarian central government is highly effective when a society undergoes dramatic transformation, to which China has presented a near perfect example for the introduction of economic reform and open-door policy. China's experience has brought to life an intriguing paradox - a countervailing market force unleashed by the visible hand of the government through privatization and deregulation. After all, economic prosperity is the foundation of a civil society.
Along the history of the Communist regime, being an atheist society, China's attitude toward NGOs has undergone a rollercoaster pendulum under different social circumstances. An overriding justification for tight surveillance over NGOs has always been safeguarding social stability. In many ways, such polio-socio construct is incomparable with that of the western countries. Nonetheless, with rising income, improved education, better access to information, expanded social welfare belt and collective learning capacity of the government, a more luxuriant civil society is emerging on Chinese horizon.
China's economic growth has been largely fueled by the rapid pace of industrialization, resulting in the threat of resource depletion and environmental degradation. Although piles of laws and regulations have been churned out on environmental protection, their lackluster enforcement has been dredging the feet. In addition to the stage of economic development, explanations can be traced to local protectionism, inadequate enforcement facilities and disintegrated CSR. Confronted by surging labor cost and environmental degradation coupled by depressive global demand, China's growth engine has to be remodeled on the concept of sustainable development.

Interactive questions:

1. How to understand the relationship between NGOs and the government under current Chinese context? Respective Concerns and contributions?
2. Why are the major reasons behind environmental degradation in China? What are your suggestions for China?
3. What inspirations can we draw from Chinese traditional culture with regard to sustainable development?