Charity paradigm change in contemporary China: From anti-socialist activity to civic duty

Abstract

This article addresses a remarkable conceptual change in China: the replacement of the perception of charities as organizations associated with anti-governmental activity by one that views charities as organized expressions of civic duty. This shift occurred within a period of just 20 years. Following theories of public policy paradigm change, this study analyses the specific societal, institutional and rhetorical changes that were required for the rehabilitation of charity in China; the articulation of a blueprint for the new paradigm; and the implementation of the model in practice, focusing on attempts to foster a charitable spirit and culture. This study is based on official documents and articles in the People's Daily . Furthermore, the analysis is complemented by interviews with staff members of charity associations carried out in Tianjin in 2007 and 2008. The findings contribute to the broader discussion of the features of China's civil society by elaborating on the boundaries of acceptable civic action. The study shows how the party-state has permitted the emergence of a space for the expression of a voluntary charitable spirit while still expecting that charitable spirit to be expressed within the confines of state-defined morally correct acts.