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ITS:

Date Posted : 3/30/2017 9:42:58 AM
Posted by : shanchuan.yin2@ColoradoCollege.edu
Subject : Anthropology Speaker Series on April 4 at 5:30pm

Abstract :

Join our first Chinese scholar Mr. Tao Liu's Anthropology Talk "The Rise and Fall of 
Civil Society in Contemporary China" on April 4 @5:30pm in WCC WES room. This 
speech examines the history of NGOs in contemporary China and argues that 'civil 
society' is a narrative and interpretation that shape and mobilize the movement of 
NGOs in China. 

Full Message :

This event is open to all CC members and the general public. Non-Governmental Organizations 
(NGOs) are believed to be an essential part of civil society, and are considered to play a crucial 
role in making a democratic regime. In doing so, NGOs are supposed to empower people and 
encourage mass participation. However, certain countries, mainly in Latin America and Asia, 
have had significant growth of NGOs but not yet made great progress in terms of transition 
towards democracy. This is especially true in China, where numerous NGOs have setup within 
the last two decades or more and are continuing to multiply. While existing studies have been 
debating the applicability of the concept of 'civil society' to China's historical situation, this 
speech attempts to examine the brief history of NGOs in contemporary China and argue that 
'civil society' is not only a term of 'value neutrality' but also a narrative and interpretation that 
shape and mobilize the movement of NGOs in China. Mr. Tao Liu is a PhD candidate in the 
Anthropology of Development at University of Sussex (UK). His research interest is mainly on 
Nonprofits in contemporary China. He is also the founder and CEO of New Austral Institute of 
Social Development (NAISD).