Social Function Of Contemporary Chinese Grass-roots Ngo

In this study, my focuses are the issues of NGOs (Non-governmental Organizations) and vulnerable groups in the present China. Since 90th of last century, Chinese academia has paid great attention to the current situation of vulnerable groups in China, and how NGOs affect the lives of those people.I intended to examine relationships among social bodies, such as governments, NGOs, and related groups, which enabled me to understand power dynamics. Also, I tried to analyze how changes of social structures affected the people lives, and how NGOs performed their social functions by aiding those disabled people. For these purposes, I took Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) patients and their support group, China-dolls Care and Support Association as examples, and observed and studied the 'participants'.My dissertation did not borrow theoretical concepts from one particular framework or school of thought such as political economy or symbolic anthropology; instead, I believe that I must widely incorporate a variety of concepts and strategies from numerous disciplines, such as culture patterns, participant development, and social structuralism etc., in order to holistically examine the topic.Much of my research is based on a complex fusion of historical investigations, sociological explorations, and ethnographic analyses since it is important to incorporate a number of different methodologies when discussing the multiple features of a socio-political phenomenon. I also accessed Internet websites from domestic and abroad resources since both have databases on all kinds of discussion of social structures and political economy. Moreover I contacted local newspapers and they were able to provide me with articles and other forms of information on such matters. By incorporating multiple forms of research from numerous academic disciplines, I was able to formulate my own multi-disciplinary analysis that enabled me to draw broad yet detail theories and arguments on topics of social structures and functions.It is important to examine the history of Chinese NGOs in relation to theories. Furthermore, I reviewed the origins, structures and developing processes of Chinese NGOs, from Yuan dynasty to the Qing dynasty, and from 1949 to the present day.Although I draw a great deal of my research from historical and anthropological materials, I obtained much of my primary data form my ethnographic experiences in the'field'.OI patients and their supporting group,China-dolls Care and Support Association, were my main observing objects. By participating in their events and activities I was able to conduct formal and informal interviews with a number of individuals in order to inquire about their life experiences. My role as a volunteer of this association enabled me to create a close space between myself and my'subjects'in turn allowing us to formulate open-ended discussions based on mutual and respectful communication.In conclusion, based on the case-study research, I drew a picture, which showed how government and other bodies including NGOs in the society cooperated to help vulnerable groups in China in ideal patterns of culture, as the end of my dissertation.