Institutional Barriers for the Development of Civil Society in Current China

Abstract

The term “institutional environment of civil society” refers to the collectivity of various formal and informal rules that affect the behavior of citizens-organizing associations and the activities of civil organizations. Institutional environment plays a vital role for the development of civil society. An appropriate institutional environment promotes the healthy development of civil society, while an inappropriate institutional environment impedes the smooth development of civil society and even leads to an opposing attitude between civil organizations and the state. This chapter focuses on discussing those negative factors within the institutional environment that impede the development of civil society. The purpose is to further improve the institutional environment of civil society, promote the smoothly development of civil society in China, and help to construct a new pattern of relationship characterized with harmony and cooperation between civil society and state.