Helping Those Devoured by the Dragon

China’s economic boom has improved the lives of millions in its most prosperous cities, often at the expense of the environment, public health, and worker’s rights. A growing number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) help those left behind. Among their diverse causes, the groups fight for better working conditions, environmental protection, and an improved legal system. While even Communist Party officials now recognize the value of NGOs like the “Star and Rain Institute for Autism,” they remain suspicious of the motives of more politically active groups. International funding sources like the Ford Foundation and the World Bank further heighten their fears, reminding party officials of Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, where Western support contributed to popular revolutions. China requires that NGOs partner with government agencies or pay high taxes. Though author Andreas Lorenz hopes that the NGOs drive “a tiny sliver of grassroots democracy into the Communist Party dictatorship,” any success is far from guaranteed.