Isomorphic Pressures, Epistemic Communities and State-NGO Collaboration in China

The China Quarterly 220: 936-954

19 Pages Posted: 2 Sep 2013 Last revised: 27 Dec 2014

See all articles by Reza Hasmath

Reza Hasmath

University of Alberta - Department of Political Science

Jennifer Y.J. Hsu

Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales

Date Written: 2014

Abstract

This article suggests that a lack of meaningful collaboration between the state and NGOs in China is not solely a result of the state seeking to restrict the development of the sector, or fear of a potential opposing actor to the state. Instead, interviews with NGOs in Beijing and Shanghai suggests that a lack of meaningful engagement between the state and NGOs can be partially attributed to isomorphic pressures within state-NGO relations, and insufficient epistemic awareness of NGO activities on the part of the state. In fact, the evidence suggests that once epistemic awareness is achieved by the state, they will have a stronger desire to interact with NGOs – with the caveat that the state will seek to utilize the material power of NGOs, rather than their symbolic, interpretive or geographical capital.

Keywords: State, NGO, Collaboration, State-Society, Isomorphism, Epistemic Community

Suggested Citation

Hasmath, Reza and Hsu, Jennifer Y.J., Isomorphic Pressures, Epistemic Communities and State-NGO Collaboration in China (2014). The China Quarterly 220: 936-954, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2319035 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2319035

Reza Hasmath (Contact Author)

University of Alberta - Department of Political Science ( email )

10-10 HM Tory Building
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H4
Canada

HOME PAGE: http://www.rezahasmath.com

Jennifer Y.J. Hsu

Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales ( email )

Sydney, 2052
Australia

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