Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Surviving the Pandemic: NGOs’ Strategies to Cope with COVID-19

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of Chinese Political Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Focusing on the challenges brought about by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic in China and the Chinese government’s increasingly stringent regulatory policies, this paper poses the following research questions: During the pandemic and in interactions with the government, why did some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) survive while others were shut down, although most of those that survived were small and medium-sized NGOs? In addressing this question, this paper delves into the strategies adopted by small and medium-sized NGOs to cope with COVID-19. Using data drawn from three years of field observations and research in six major cities in China, this paper finds that four types of small and medium-sized NGOs resorted to different strategies that followed degree of competitiveness and scope of main business. The scarcity of resources resulting to the pandemic plunged NGOs into a competitive survival posture; thus, the strategies for the four types of small and medium-sized NGOs achieved three levels of effectiveness, namely good, medium, and poor. The findings of this paper shed significant light on the diversity and complexity of the survival and development of NGOs under the authoritarian regime of China.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Data retrieved from “Public Service Platform for Chinese NGOs” (http://data.chinanpo.gov.cn/) on February 5, 2021.

  2. The field research also covers other small and medium-sized cities such as Hangzhou, Nanjing, Jinan, and Nantong.

  3. “14% of NGOs in Crisis Risk Shutting Down: Survival of “the Third Sector” after the Pandemic”, Qiulin Xu Wang, 2020. Southern Weekly, August 13, 2020.

  4. NGOs in China generally refer to themselves as “agency”.

  5. Interview with the General-Director of RARLXZZAZJTZCZX, in Beijing, August 12, 2021.

  6. Interview with a social worker of XTSQJKCJS, in Shanghai, June 23, 2020.

  7. Interview with a social worker of ZYFWZX, in Xi’an, August 25, 2022.

  8. Interview with the Chairman of GAETFWZX, in Nanjing, April 10, 2021.

  9. General Office of the Ministry of Civil Affairs: “Notice on Comprehensive Implementation of the Application and Promotion of the National NGOs Legal Person Database Project”(《关于全面开展国家社会组织法人库项目应用推广工作的通知》), http://www.chinanpo.gov.cn/xwxq?newsType=2351&id=13736, February 1, 2021.

  10. Interview with the Chairman of JYMSHFWZX, in Shanghai, June 3, 2020.

  11. Li, Keqiang. 2020. Report on the Work of the Government, May 22, 2020, http://www.gov.cn/zhuanti/2020lhzfgzbg/index.htm, November 9, 2020.

  12. Interview with Deputy Director of BT Sub-district Office, in S City, July 21, 2020.

  13. Interview with a social worker of GALSHGZFWZX, in Chengdu, October 9, 2021.

  14. Interview with a social worker of XZMZCFWZX, in Jinan, February 9, 2021.

  15. Interview with the Chairman of ESMZWHCBZX, in Shanghai, July 6, 2021.

  16. Interview with a social worker of ADJJH, in Nantong, February 15, 2020.

  17. Interview with a social worker of ADJJH, in Nantong, February 15, 2020.

  18. Lingxi(灵析) is committed to helping public welfare organizations solve fundraising, dissemination, event, and data management problems through innovative design, technology, and data power. It currently supports more than 90,000 registered users to continuously accumulate public welfare data and discover greater value behind the data. Website address: https://www.lingxi360.com/

  19. Interview with the Chairman of ADJJH, in Nantong, February 15, 2020.

  20. For details, see: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?src=11&timestamp=1671875782&ver=4246&signature=hyb5DFfgCUnWef4Uh1tjKVcL2eG7YeoQhwGK7gFFtajRhza8REJFQqAzLkt09pT0OLuAGk3m2pMESeztJeIc0BJ0nbwYML6YOdfWJo415eb6WRBV0yrPYJ8a3c2I&new=1, July 3, 2020.

  21. In Regulations on the Registration and Management of NGOs it is specified that NGOs shall indicate their service range when registering themselves at civil administration departments.

  22. Interview with the Chairman of HLXLZXZX, in Shanghai, July 31, 2020.

  23. Interview with the Chairman of SLJFWZX, in Shanghai, May 6, 2021.

  24. Interview with the Chairman of SQXDCYZX, in Beijing, November 31, 2021.

  25. Interview with the Chairman of CXSHFZFWZX, in Wuhan, October 3, 2020.

  26. Interview with the Chairman of YYSQHZZX, in Hangzhou, July 24, 2022.

  27. Interview with the Chairman of ATZX, in Wuhan, November 20, 2020.

  28. Interview with the Chairman of QSXHTSETGAZX, in Shenzhen, July 24, 2022.

  29. Interview with the Chairman of AYXSQFZZX, in Chengdu, October 9, 2021.

  30. Interview with the Director of NGO Management Bureau of Civil Affairs Bureau of H District, in B City, May 23, 2020.

  31. Interview with Secretary General of SHZZFZ Foundation, in B City, August 21, 2020.

  32. Survey of CSL Neighborhood Federation of NGOs, the City of Q, November 26, 2020.

  33. Survey of TQ Neighborhood Service Center for NGOs, the City of C, December 15, 2020.

  34. Interview with the Chairman of AFHB, in Shanghai, May 11, 2021.

  35. Interview with the Chairman of ADSHZXZZX, in Shanghai, November 6, 2021.

  36. Based on the statistics from JJQSHZUFA Foundation in Chengdu.

  37. The “Five Decouplings”(五脱钩) refer to the requirements of the Overall Plan for the Reform of Decoupling Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce from Administrative Agencies, (《行业协会商会与行政机关脱钩总体方案》)which was issued by the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council in 2015. The decoupling involves the decoupling of institutional structures between industry associations and chambers of commerce from administrative agencies, to standardize comprehensive regulatory relationships; the decoupling of functions to standardize administrative delegation and division of responsibilities; the decoupling of assets and finance to standardize property relationships; the decoupling of personnel management to standardize employment relationships, and the decoupling of party-building, foreign affairs, and other matters, to standardize management relationships. The ultimate goal is to accelerate the formation of a modern social organizational system that decouples politics from society, clarifies rights and responsibilities, and operates autonomously under the law.

  38. Interview with the President of NYFQWLY Association, in Shanghai, December 28, 2021.

  39. Interview with the President of YXCBZZHY Association, in Shanghai, January 9, 2022.

  40. “zombie” (僵尸型)NGOs refer to those that “have not participated in annual inspections continuously, have not carried out business activities, and cannot be contacted”. See the Ministry of Civil Affairs: “Notice on the Special Campaign to Clean up “Zombie” NGOs (Minfa [2021] No. 63)”(《关于开展 “僵尸型”社会组织专项整治行动的通知 (民发〔2021〕63号) 》). The data shows that the proportion of non-active or suspected non-active NGOs nationwide is about 14%.

  41. “These organizations occupy social resources, consume administrative management costs, have potential risks, and affect the healthy and orderly development of NGOs.” See the Ministry of Civil Affairs: “Notice on the Special Campaign to Clean up “Zombie” NGOs (Minfa [2021] No. 63)”. https://www.mca.gov.cn/article/xw/tzgg/202107/20210700035681.shtml.

  42. Interview with Deputy Director of the Civil Affairs Bureau, in S City, October 15, 2022.

References

  1. Ahmad, Ehtisham. 2022. Multilevel Responses to Risks, Shocks and Pandemics: Lessons from the Evolving Chinese Governance Model, Journal of Chinese. Governance 7 (2): 291–319.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Alshater, Muneer M., et al. 2022. What Do We Know About Business and Economics Research During COVID-19: A Bibliometric Review. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja 35 (1): 1884–1912.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Atta, Ullah, Pinglu Chen, Saif Ullah, et al. 2021. The Role of E-Governance in Combating COVID-19 and Promoting Sustainable Development: A Comparative Study of China and Pakistan. Chinese Political Science Review 6 (1): 86–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bentley, Julia Greenwood. 2004. Survival Strategies for Civil Society Organizations in China. International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law 6 (2): 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Josh Bowling et al., 2012. Organizer’s Workbook: Tools to Support Your Awesome Neighborhood. Indianapolis neighborhood resource center.

  6. Broadbridge, Adelina, and Liz Parsons. 2003. Still serving the community? The professionalization of the UK charity retail sector. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management 31 (8): 418–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Brook, Timothy, and B. Michael. Frolic, eds. 1997. Civil Society in China. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Caballero-Anthony, Mely, and Lina Gong. 2021. Security Governance in East Asia and China’s Response to COVID-19. Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences 14 (2): 153–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. 2005. Successful Strategies for Recruiting, Training, and Utilizing Volunteers: A Guide for Faith- and Community-Based Service Providers, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

  10. Chan, Kin-Man. 2010. Commentary on Hsu: Graduated Control and NGO Responses: Civil Society as Institutional Logic. Journal of Civil Society 6 (3): 301–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Chen, Weilei. 2013. A Review on China’s NPO Studies in Recent Years: from the Relationship Study to the Action Strategies Study. Sociological Studies 28(1): 228–240+246.

  12. Chen, Youhua, and Guohui Zhan. 2020. Development of Chinese NGOs: Current Situation, Issues and Choices. Expanding Horizons 5: 73–80.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Cheng, Yuan (Daniel), Jianxing Yu, Yongdong Shen, et al. 2020. Coproducing Responses to COVID-19 with Community-Based Organizations: Lessons from Zhejiang Province, China. Public Administration Review 80(5): 866–873.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. China Society of Emergency Management, et al. 2020. Evaluation Report of NGOs’ Effort in Fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic (Digital Edition).

  15. College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University, et al. 2020. Evaluation Report of the Impact of COVID-19 on NGOs (Digital Edition).

  16. Deng, Huaning. 2011. “Arts of Hermit Crab”: Environmental Adaptation Strategies of within the Regime NGOs —— A Case Study of Two Provincial Level NGOs in Tianjin. Journal of Public Management 3: 142–158.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Dong, Qiang, and Jiahuan Lu. 2020. In the Shadow of the Government: The Chinese Nonprofit Sector in the COVID-19 Crisis. The American Review of Public Administration 50 (6–7): 784–789.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Gong, Buyun. 2022. A Genealogical Study of Facemasks in China: From Hygienic Modernity to Care. Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences 15 (2): 189–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Gu, Yanfeng, Xuan Qin, Zhongyuan Wang, et al. 2021. Global Justice Index Report 2020. Chinese Political Science Review 6 (3): 322–486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Gu, Yanfeng, Sujian Guo, Xuan Qin, et al. 2022. Global Justice Index Report 2021. Chinese Political Science Review 7 (3): 322–465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Gu, Yanfeng, Sujian Guo, Xuan Qin, et al. 2023. Global Justice Index Report 2022. Chinese Political Science Review 8 (2): 133–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Han, Heejin. 2018. Legal Governance of NGOs In China Under Xi Jinping: Reinforcing Divide and Rule. Asian Journal of Political Science 26 (3): 390–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. He, Yanling, Zhou, Xiaofeng, and Zhang, Pengju. 2009. The Possibility of Non-Cooperation: A Case Study of Chinese Grass Roots Organizations’ Acting Strategy Journal of Public Management 6(1):48–54+124–125.

  24. Howell, Jude. 1998. An Unholy Trinity? Civil Society, Economic Liberalization and Democratization in Post-Mao China. Government and Opposition 33 (1): 56–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Hsu, Carolyn L. 2010. Beyond Civil Society: An Organizational Perspective on State-NGO Relations in the People’s Republic of China. Journal of Civil Society 6 (3): 259–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Hsu, Jennifer YJ., and Reza Hasmath, eds. 2013. The Chinese Corporatist State: Adaption. Survival and Resistance: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hsu, Carolyn L., and Yuzhou Jiang. 2015. An Institutional Approach to Chinese NGOs: State Alliance Versus State Avoidance Resource Strategies. The China Quarterly 221: 100–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Hu, Ming, and Mark Sidel. 2020. Civil society and COVID in China: Responses in an Authoritarian society. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 49 (6): 1173–1181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Huang, Xiaoyong, ed. 2022. Blue Book of NGOs: A Report on NGOs in China (2022). Beijing: Social Science Literature Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Huang, Biao, Li Ye, and Jiebing Wu. 2022. Pandemic Control vs. Economic Recovery: Understanding The Dynamics of Work and Production Resumption Policy in Local China. Journal of Chinese Governance 8(3): 283–301.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Liang, Ying. 2013. Going Green in Urban Crevices: The Social Policy Logic behind the Development of NGOs in Eco-friendly Communities. The Journal of Humanities 6: 112–119.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Liu, Yuemei, and Ming Tian. 2020. Embedding and Conversion: Research on the Action Strategy of Environmental NGOs in the Process of Environmental Policy Implementation. Chinese Public Administration 7: 49–55.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Ma, Qiusha. 2002. The Governance of NGOs in China Since 1978: How Much Autonomy? Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 31 (3): 305–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Mao, Yunyun. 2021. The Role of NGOs in Policy Advocacy from the Perspective of Environmental Issues: An Analysis Based on the Framework of Advocacy Alliances. Youth & Children Research and Practice 36 (3): 71–80.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Qin, Xuan, and Catherine Owen. 2022. The CCP, Campaign Governance and COVID-19: Evidence from Shanghai. Journal of Chinese Political Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11366-022-09838-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Qingyu, Ma., Ju. Xie, and Shi Junyi. 2020. A Study on Measuring the Economic Scale of Registered NGOs in the Third Sector of China. Chinese Public Administration 12: 62–68.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Shin, Kyoung, and Tingting Zhu. 2023. Environmental Civil Society Organizations and the State in China: Institutional Analysis of the Dynamics, 1980s–2010s. Journal of Chinese Political Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11366-023-09848-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Song, Qinghua. 2012. Communication & Consultation: Six Methods to Promote Public Participation. Beijing: China Society Press.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Song, Esther Eunhou. 2022. How Outsourcing Social Services to NGOs Bolsters Political Trust in China: Evidence from Shanghai. Chinese Political Science Review 7 (1): 1–27.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Spires, Anthony J. 2011. Contingent Symbiosis and Civil Society in an Authoritarian State: Understanding the Survival of China’s Grassroots NGOs. American Journal of Sociology 117 (1): 1–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Su, Zheng, Shiqi Ma, and Changdong Zhang. 2022. Participation Without Contestation: NGOs’ Autonomy and Advocacy in China. The China Quarterly 251: 1–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Sumiti, Kataria, and Hongmei Qu. 2022. The Coronavirus Pandemic: The Growing Relevance of Moral Cosmopolitan Justice? Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences 15 (1): 1–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Tian, Fengrui, and Julia Chuang. 2022. Depoliticizing China’s Grassroots NGOs: State and Civil Society as an Institutional Field of Power. The China Quarterly 250: 509–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Unger, Jonathan, and Anita Chan. 1995. China, Corporatism, and the East Asian Model. The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs. 33: 29–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Unger, Jonathan, and Anita Chan. 1996. Corporatism in China: A Developmental State in an East Asian Context. In China after socialism: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Wang, Huan, and Ying Wang. 2023. Party-building and Government Funding: The Effect of the Chinese Communist Party on Non-governmental Organizations. Journal of Chinese Political Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11366-023-09850-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Woodman, Sophia. 2006. Non-Governmental Organizations in Contemporary China: Paving the Way to Civil Society? Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Xi, Jinrui, and Ratigan Kerry. 2023. Treading Through COVID-19: Can Village Leader-Villager Relations Reinforce Public Trust Toward the Chinese Central Government? Journal of Chinese Political Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11366-023-09846-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Xu, Jialiang. 2020. Advantages and Functions of NGOs in Pandemic Control: A Case Study of NGOs in Beijing. People’s Tribune 23: 28–31.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Xuan, Tu. 2022. Understanding the Role of Self-Organizations in Disaster Relief During COVID-19: A Case Study from the Perspective of Co-production. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 74: 102927.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Yingying Ji. 2013. NGOs in Contemporary China: Theoretical Perspective and Empirical Research. Sociological Studies (5): 219–241+246.

  52. Yuval, Arbel, Arbel Yifat, Amichai Kerner, et al. 2022. Can the Regime Type (Democracy versus Autocracy) Explain the COVID-19 Recovery Rates? Chinese Political Science Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41111-022-00218-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Zhang, Zhibin, and Chao Guo. 2020. Nonprofit-Government Relations in Authoritarian China: A Review and Synthesis of the Chinese Literature. Administration & Society 53 (1): 64–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Zhang, Jingen, and Wenjia Zhuang. 2008. Informal Politics and Acting Tactics of a Grassroot NGO: A case study of the Preparatory Committee of Guangzhou Proprietor Committee’s Friendship Association. Sociological Studies 2: 133–150+245.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Zhang, Xiaoming, Weijie Luo, and Jingci Zhu. 2021. Top-Down and Bottom-Up Lockdown: Evidence from COVID-19 Prevention and Control in China. Journal of Chinese Political Science 26 (1): 189–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Zhao, Ting, and Zhongsheng Wu. 2020. Citizen-State Collaboration in Combating COVID-19 in China: Experiences and Lessons from the Perspective of Co-Production. The American Review of Public Administration 50 (6–7): 777–783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank all the social workers and Chairmen interviewed, and three anonymous reviewers for very helpful feedback and comments on the earlier draft of this article. All errors are my own.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Marxism, Fudan University, Room 212, 11th Building, No.220 Handan Road, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Song Daolei

Authors
  1. Song Daolei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Song Daolei.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

None.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Daolei, S. Surviving the Pandemic: NGOs’ Strategies to Cope with COVID-19. J OF CHIN POLIT SCI (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11366-023-09863-1

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11366-023-09863-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation