In the Shadow of the Government: The Chinese Nonprofit Sector in the COVID-19 Crisis

• Author: Jiahuan Lu,Qiang Dong
• Published date: 01 August 2020
• Date: 01 August 2020
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0275074020942457
• Subject Matter: Comparative Governance During COVID-19: Lessons From Around the WorldComparative Management & Learning Techniques

https://doi.org/10.1177/0275074020942457

American Review of Public Administration

2020, Vol. 50(6-7) 784 –789

© The Author(s) 2020

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DOI: 10.1177/0275074020942457

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Comparative Management & Learning Techniques

Introduction

Nonprofit organizations often work on the front lines of

disaster recovery and relief. Due to their community connec-

tions, programming flexibility, and charitable motives, non-

profits are well suited to providing effective and timely

humanitarian aid and spiritual care to individuals, families,

and communities affected by disasters. During the unprece-

dented coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the

nonprofit sector in many countries is playing an active role in

responding to the physical, psychological, and spiritual

needs of needy individuals and communities. For example,

in the United States, many human services nonprofits are

expanding key services to meet increased demands for basic

necessities as a result of the unfolding COVID-19 crisis

(Deitrick et al., 2020). In the United Kingdom, the central

government sets out a £750 million package of coronavirus

funding for frontline nonprofits to support their vital work

(Her Majesty’s Treasury, 2020).

In contrast, the nonprofit sector in China is playing only a

marginal role in this pandemic crisis. The national effort to

tackle the coronavirus is predominantly led by the govern-

ment. The job of fighting against the virus and supporting

vulnerable people is mostly on the government’s shoulders,

while the nonprofit sector has not stepped up as a forceful

part of the effort. Interestingly, after four decades of remark-

able growth, the Chinese nonprofit sector has significantly

increased its size and impact. The sector now includes more

than 800,000 registered organizations and provides nearly 10

million full-time jobs (Ministry of Civil Affairs of China,

2019). The contrast between the nonprofit sector’s large size

and its limited participation in the fight against COVID-19 is

the puzzle we are trying to solve. The goal of this article is to

unpack the underlying rationale for the nonprofit sector’s

low level of participation in this pandemic crisis and the

impacts of the crisis on the nonprofit sector.

The remaining sections are arranged as follows. The next

section delineates the institutional environment of the

Chinese nonprofit sector, which provides the context for our

later discussion. We then provide details about nonprofits’

participation in the relief efforts. Finally, we analyze the

immediate and short-term impacts of the coronavirus pan-

demic on the Chinese nonprofit sector.

The Institutional Environment of the

Chinese Nonprofit Sector

The nonprofit sector in China has experienced unique chal-

lenges from the authoritarian political regime and strict

social regulatory system. Historically, the government

942457ARPXXX10.1177/0275074020942457The American Review of Public AdministrationDong and Lu

research-article2020

1China Agricultural University, Beijing, China

2Rutgers University—Newark, NJ, USA

Corresponding Author:

Jiahuan Lu, Associate Professor, School of Public Affairs and

Administration, Rutgers University—Newark, 111 Washington Street,

Newark, NJ 07102, USA.

Email: jiahuan.lu@rutgers.edu

In the Shadow of the Government:

The Chinese Nonprofit Sector in

the COVID-19 Crisis

Qiang Dong1 and Jiahuan Lu2

Abstract

Nonprofit organizations often work on the front lines of disaster assistance and emergency relief. In this sweeping coronavirus

disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the nonprofit sector in many countries is playing an active role in the national fight

against the coronavirus. However, the Chinese nonprofit sector only plays a marginal role in the battle. This article, from

a government–nonprofit relationship perspective, delves into the underlying factors shaping the Chinese nonprofit sector’s

limited involvement in this pandemic crisis and the impacts of the crisis on the Chinese nonprofit sector. In particular, we

argue that a strong and centralized political regime leaves little room for nonprofits’ involvement in emergency relief, resulting

in a nonprofit sector that is vulnerable and marginalized. Nonprofits have to be smarter in coping with the government in

the COVID-19 downturn.

Keywords

government-nonprofit Relations, Chinese nonprofit sector, COVID-19