The Economist earlier this month commented on the growth of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in China (“Enter the Chinese NGO“). It estimates that there are approximately 2 million NGOs currently operating in China, about three-quarters of which are not officially registered, with many more likely to form in the near future. The communist party’s plan appears to be to try to keep them small and local, and therefore presumably not a challenge to the party’s authority or power. In a relatd, more detailed article (“Beneath the Glacier“), the Economist explores the reasons for the growth in Chinese NGOs and the wary response of the government to them (UPDATE: and quotes our blog’s own Karla Simon).
Lloyd Mayer
