The Regulation of Civil Society Organizations in China

Against the backdrop of the current legal environment for civil society organizations (CSOs/NPOs) in China (describe in the paper), this article outlines current developments that tend to suggest there is an opening of space for operations of those organizations. It has been published in the January 2011 issue of the International Journal of Civil Society Law. The article discusses attempts to make it easier to register social organizations at the provincial level, the registration of the One Foundation in Shenzhen, issues with regard to self-regulation (most of which have yet to be resolved), and new provincial fund-raising regulations adopted in three provinces. It also includes a chart of different approaches to the documentation (bei an) system for the recognition of small local NPOs