Legal Issues of Social Groups

Author: Wu Yuzhang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: This book is a research outcome of the project "Legal Issues of Social Organizations in China." Approximately two years ago, Professor Xia Yong, Director of the Institute of Law at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Mr. Philip de Heer, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to China, signed an agreement on cooperative research on "Legal Issues of Social Organizations in China." Since then, scholars with similar interests first organized within the Institute of Law and gradually expanded their efforts beyond the institute. While deeply reflecting on the right of citizens to form associations, they also launched extensive social surveys in several cities and rural areas across the country. We not only examined the existence and management models of associations in traditional Chinese society, the current management model, international experiences, and development trends, but also proposed our own reform suggestions for the current state of freedom of association in China. Through the study of legal issues of social organizations in China, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of human rights and call for the early realization of a "small government, large society" reform. Although the initial goal of establishing this project—to directly promote the enactment of laws such as the "Promotion Law of Civil Organizations in the People's Republic of China"—has not yet been fully achieved, we have not only drafted a scholarly version of the law but also provided necessary theoretical preparation and reference models for future legislation based on our research conclusions. Thanks to the efforts of all members of the "Legal Issues of Social Organizations in China" research team, the book has finally been published. As an editor, I still feel as if "standing at the edge of a deep pool and treading on thin ice." On one hand, any shortcomings in this book are my own responsibility; on the other hand, I have no certainty about how society will evaluate it. Of course, the existence of the association phenomenon may not necessarily be related to the publication of this book, but the development patterns of associations and the improvement of their legal environment are certainly linked to people's understanding. It can be said that the deeper the understanding, the clearer the principles articulated, and the better the environment for the development of social organizations. We hope that our research can effectively improve the legal environment for freedom of association in China.
Additionally, to complete the social surveys in several cities and rural areas in China, the research team designed and distributed questionnaires. The large volume of data collected from surveys and interviews will be published in the academic community and society in a timely manner after professional statistical analysis.
As we conclude this research project, we first extend our gratitude to Professor Xia Yong, Director of the Institute of Law, and Mr. Philip de Heer, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to China (Dr. Philip de Heer). Their creativity, attention, and personal participation in international seminars, as well as their strong support for extending the cooperative project, were particularly important for the smooth progress of the research. At the same time, we also thank Mr. Paul, Commercial Counselor of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China, Mr. Schneider, the Embassy's accountant, and especially Mrs. Christine Pirenne, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China. Her timely assistance was crucial for the successful launch of the research project. Mr. Bergh, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China, and Ms. Tian Hong, Interpreter of the Embassy, also contributed significantly to communication between China and the Netherlands.
The completion of this book was supported by Dr. Li Yuwen of the Institute of Human Rights at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Her role in providing key concepts, foreign research literature, and organizing international experts to attend conferences in Beijing was indispensable. Of course, we also thank the foreign experts who came to Beijing to participate in the "Legal Issues of Social Organizations in China" conference, including Mr. A. L. G. A. Stille, Judge of the Supreme Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands; Professor Tymen J. van der Ploeg of the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands; Professor Paul Dekker of the Netherlands Organization for Social and Cultural Research; Professor Richard Fries of the London School of Economics, UK; Mr. Francis Charhon, Chairman of the Fondation France Libertés; and Mr. Rupert G. Strachwitz, Director of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Germany.
At the same time, we thank Director Chen Jinluo of the Civil Affairs Department of the People's Republic of China, as well as the leaders of the Civil Affairs Department whom we visited and had in-depth discussions with. They provided significant support for the completion of our research project and surveys. We also thank Director Zhu Weiguo of the Legal Affairs Office of the State Council, Director Jiang Muhui of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the People's Republic of China, and the responsible comrades of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, who sent staff members to participate in the seminars organized by the research team. Professor Wang Ming, Vice Director of the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University, and his research team, Professor Yuan Ruijun of Peking University and his research team, Professor Wang Canfa of China University of Political Science and Law, and Teacher Wang Jianqin all participated in this project in different ways. We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to them!
Several social organizations in China, such as Vice President Huang Haoming of the Promotion Association of Civil Organizations in China, Director Shang Yusheng of the NPO Information Center, Mr. Yang Dongping, Ms. Zhang Jilian, Ms. Meng Weina of Beijing's "Huilin," Mr. Ke Maikai and Ms. Guo Lina of the International Cooperative Federation, Ms. Wang Yunxian of Oxfam, the Tianjin Autism Rescue Association, Mr. Rao Yong of the "Water Conservation Volunteer Association in the Ruoergai Region," Mr. Wan Ping of the "Fixed Sand Area in Tongyu, Jilin," and Mr. Zhang Wei of the "Dalu Volunteer Management Office in Shunyi, Beijing," have participated in our research and surveys to varying degrees, and their involvement has greatly helped us complete the project. Professor Wang Jiafu and Professor Liu Haiyan of the former Institute of Law provided strong support for this research project. Vice Director Chen and Vice Director Chen Zexian of the Institute of Law also helped us complete the research in different ways. We are also very grateful to Vice Director Li Wei and Deputy Director Chen Li of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. As the foreign affairs of the project, Dr. Jiang Xiaohong, Deputy Director of the Research Department of the Institute of Law, made significant contributions to communication and cooperation between China and the Netherlands.
The English section of this book was translated by Mr. Bi Xiaoqing, Deputy Translator of the Institute of Law. We believe his translation will help English readers better understand the content discussed in this book. Over the past two years, more than 10 people from the Institute of Law have participated in this project. Their honesty, independent thinking, and diligence should be highly commended. The publication of this book was greatly supported by Professor Feng Jun, Assistant Director of the Institute of Law. Additionally, the publication of this book was supported by Director Song Yuehua and others at Social Sciences Academic Press, and we express our sincere gratitude.