Movement-Oriented Labor NGOs in an Authoritarian Regime: The Case of China

• In Event: 2140 - Addressing Labor Rights through the Private, Public, and Non-Profit Sectors

Abstract

Studies of labor non-governmental organizations (LNGOs) in democratic regimes highlight their contributions to the collective organizing of workers. Drawing on the case of China, this article fills a gap by elucidating the role of LNGOs in workers’ concerted actions under authoritarian regimes. Based on a conceptual model drawn from social movement theories, it evaluates the various roles—and the limitations—of movement-oriented LNGOs (MLNGOs) in facilitating worker resistance. With data gathered through qualitative fieldwork, this paper illustrates that MLNGOs in an authoritarian regime provide, to varying degrees, material, social-organizational, human, moral, and cultural resources to worker collective actions.

Author

• Sio Ieng Hui, Pennsylvania State University