The Role of NGOs in China’s Public Diplomacy: A Study of Chinese NGOs’ Engagement in Developing Area
Author
Miao, Yuan
Term
4. term
Publication year
2015
Submitted on
2015-05-18
Pages
50
Abstract
This thesis examines the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in China’s public diplomacy, focusing on Chinese NGOs’ engagement in developing countries. It asks two questions: what have Chinese NGOs done as tools of public diplomacy, and why do they do it? The study situates NGOs within China’s distinctive regulatory and political context, where many organizations maintain close ties to the state and GONGOs are prominent. Methodologically, it combines a literature review using both Chinese and Western sources with three case studies: the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (humanitarian aid, livelihoods, education and medical assistance), the Global Environmental Institute (work in Laos and Myanmar to make investment more socially and environmentally responsible), and the U.S.-based The Nature Conservancy as a comparative case. Sources include the organizations’ own materials, third-party reports and interviews. The analysis suggests that although Chinese NGOs’ overseas work is still at an early stage, they already contribute to China’s soft power, particularly through humanitarian and environmental initiatives. Their activities often align with state goals and can advance public diplomacy as a by-product of projects that also serve organizational development and humanitarian missions; national interests are an additional driver. Achieving impact at the national level would require broader NGO participation. The thesis does not measure effectiveness but synthesizes contributions and motivations. Limitations include scarce literature linking NGOs and public diplomacy, data gaps, language barriers, limited fieldwork, and the long-term nature of public diplomacy. The study thus offers a new lens on China’s public diplomacy through NGOs’ overseas engagement.
Afhandlingen undersøger ikke-statslige organisationers (NGO’ers) rolle i Kinas offentlige diplomati med fokus på kinesiske NGO’ers engagement i udviklingslande. Den rejser to spørgsmål: hvad har kinesiske NGO’er gjort som redskaber i offentlig diplomati, og hvorfor gør de det? Undersøgelsen placerer NGO’erne i Kinas særlige regulerings- og politiske kontekst, hvor mange organisationer har tætte relationer til staten og hvor GONGO’er spiller en stor rolle. Metodisk bygger studiet på et litteraturstudie med både kinesiske og vestlige kilder samt tre casestudier: China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (humanitær bistand, levevilkår, uddannelse og sundhed), Global Environmental Institute (arbejde i Laos og Myanmar for at gøre investeringer mere sociale og miljømæssigt ansvarlige) og det amerikanske The Nature Conservancy som sammenligningscase. Datagrundlaget omfatter organisationernes egne materialer samt tredjepartsrapporter og -interviews. Analysen peger på, at kinesiske NGO’er, selv om deres internationale arbejde stadig er i en tidlig fase, allerede bidrager til Kinas bløde magt især gennem humanitære og miljørelaterede indsatser. Deres praksis er ofte på linje med statens mål og kan fremme offentlig diplomati som et biprodukt af projekter, der samtidig tjener organisationernes udvikling og humanitære missioner; nationale interesser er en medvirkende drivkraft. For at skabe gennemslag på nationalt niveau kræves dog, at flere NGO’er engagerer sig. Afhandlingen måler ikke effekter, men sammenfatter bidrag og motivationer. Begrænsninger omfatter ringe tilgang til litteratur, datamæssige huller, sprogbarrierer, manglende feltarbejde og at offentlig diplomati virker på længere sigt. Studiet tilbyder dermed et nyt perspektiv på Kinas offentlige diplomati via NGO’ers aktiviteter i udlandet.
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Keywords
NGO ; Public Diplomacy ; China