Statement
G. Eugene Martin, former Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy in Beijing
Open Forum on Human Rights and the Rule of Law in China
04 March 2002

TOWARDS A CIVIL SOCIETY

Statement G. Eugene Martin, former Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy in Beijing

As China moves toward more representative government under the rule of law, the development of civil society will be a critical building block. Allowing citizens to form and join groups which foster common goals of society while furthering their own interests will advance human rights and democracy by providing a shock absorbing cushion between government and individuals.

Civil society can be defined in part as institutions formed by citizens individually or collectively apart from the state or party apparatus. The institutions' or organizations' primary goal would be to serve the goals or interests of their members. The groups could be oriented toward social goals, services, religious pursuits, or academic ends. Individuals would have a sense of belonging to a group or body with shared ideals and objectives, thus reducing alienation and dissention.

The problem in China is the government sees such organizations as potential rival power centers, competing ideological or philosophical bodies, or socially destabilizing agents. China has a long history of secret societies and movements which became either criminal or political and, on occasion, succeeded in overthrowing the dynastic government. One need only look at the Taiping Rebellion or Sun Yat-sen's Tongmenghui movement. Given the increased availability of information and the speed of modern communication, organizations have enhanced means of connecting their members throughout the country. This in part is why the Chinese government has clamped down so hard on a number of groups, from the Falung Gong to independent labor unions and religious bodies, insisting on state/party control over all organizations.

Non-governmental civil society organizations are, however, an important component in a nation's efforts to provide its citizens with the means to prosper, to meet society's needs, and advance national interests. Many countries have learned that an engaged, informed and active citizenry can complement the government's efforts to achieve common goals. During the first 30 years of the People's Republic, the Party insisted on controlling and dictating all activity, whether economic, political or social. Individuals had little if any private space in which to pursue their own interests or ideas. Then under Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms, China unleashed Chinese citizens' innate abilities and enthusiasm. The resulting transformation of China's economy also gave its citizens greater control over their private lives.

As Chinese citizens gain more choices in their lives, there is a growing desire to protect and advance their individual and collective interests by associating with like-minded people. Professional, cultural, religious or social groupings advocate development of a transparent and consistent rule of law as well as greater "political space" to express their opinions and needs. These goals often parallel those advocated by the government and party; occasionally, they diverge. In most cases, those that differ from the state/party are not antithetical or threatening. Rather, they propose a different approach to problems based upon grass roots perspectives. Such diversity can only strengthen and stabilize China's society by giving citizens peaceful, lawful means to express their opinions and to work to advance them. While some groups undoubtedly oppose state or party policies, transparency, diversity and public discussion usually result in moderate policies toward common goals.

Civil society is taking root in China. As economic reforms develop, the government finds it is unable to provide all its citizens' needs and expectations. The State Owned Enterprise (SOE) crisis, floating population, rural recession, urban dislocations cause problems the government can not resolve. A number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been allowed, even encouraged, by the government, albeit under close state/party supervision and control. These deal with environmental, natural disaster, and poverty challenges. Other non-governmental groups have stepped in to provide social services when the government cannot for financial or structural reasons. These include volunteer support in orphanages or elder homes, counseling to migrant and unemployed SOE workers, medical assistance in rural or migrant communities, and tutorial help to students. These services are desperately needed by the society in transition from a planned to a market economy and can be accomplished through private organizations. By allowing such groups to fill the void, the government is already fostering the beginnings of a civil society.

The development of a broader civil society in China is an integral part of the advancement of the rule of law and human rights.

G. Eugene Martin
Asia Pacific Strategies

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