The Rise of Religious NGOs in China: A Neo-Institutional Perspective

• In Event: 594 - Section on Political Sociology Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 17. NGOs as Political Actors

Abstract

This article looks at how transnational Chinese evangelical Christian religious
NGOs (RNGOs) negotiate socio-political uncertainty in mainland China. Using neo-institutional theory as a framework, the article evaluates how RNGOs adapt to operate in
China while maintaining their faith mission. One of the key findings of the study is that there
is creative circumvention of coercive isomorphic pressures in mainland China through
transnational linkages.

Authors

• Jonathan Tam, University of Oxford

• Reza Hasmath, University of Oxford