Since the instigation of the reform and open-door policy almost three decades ago, China has been experiencing rapid economic growth. An increasingly open economy has created the sound infrastructure necessary for an open society. Communist regimes in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe were not able to survive reform, and the fall of these regimes led to democratization. Despite an open economy and an opening society, China’s political system remains authoritarian. Yet, the regime has found it increasingly difficult to govern its increasingly open and complicated society. Will china be able to establish good governance?

This book answers this key question by focusing on the dynamics of the development of the non-state sector and its impact on governance in China. It examines international experiences of the development of civil society and sustainable development, ranging from international NGOs and global civil society to newly rising civil organizations in Russia. It then explores the major issues facing the development of the non-state sector and of governance in China, covering important areas such as corporate social responsibility, the Internet and deliberative institutions. Special attention is paid to development in Zhejiang province, which has a developed private sector. This book also discusses the experiences of international NGOs in China and how they have promoted democratic governance in rural China.

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