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East Asian Civil Society Organizations in Comparative Perspective
Organizer and Chair: Robert J. Pekkanen, University of Washington
Discussant: Hidehiro Yamamoto, University of Washington, Japan
This panel presents analyses of civil society in China, Japan and Korea based on a series of surveys of organizations in each of those states. The data has been collected through a major research project at the University of Tsukuba in Japan that surveys social organizations in each of those states (and several other countries). None of the data or analyses have been presented in the US or published in English as yet. This panel brings together project members from Japan, Korea, and the US to present research on civil society in China, Japan and Korea. Because the research has been led by country experts working in coordination with each other, the result is a very coherent and yet broadly comparative panel. The presentations detail the results of analysis of proprietary data sets generated through intensive surveys of organizations in these states. The panel provides new data and perspectives on key research issues such as the relative composition of civil society in East Asian states, the organizational resources these groups possess, and the connections between the state and civil society organizations.
Which Civil Society Organizations in Which Countries are Enjoying Policy-Making Processes and Why: Comparing 7 Countries in the JIGS Surveys
Yutaka Tsujinaka, University of Tsukuba, Japan
How influential are civil society organizations in different countries? How do they perceive their efficacy? This paper is organized around a preliminary attempt to investigate these questions in comparative contexts. This paper presents comparative research on civil society organizations in China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Russia, the Philippines, and Turkey. The analysis is based on surveys led by Yutaka Tsujinaka of the University of Tsukuba, Japan, and conducted in conjunction with partner researchers. Comparative perceptions of efficacy are investigated through an analysis of the Subjective Influence Score (SIS). The surveys in each of these states ask CSOs to evaluate their own influence, as well as the influence of other political players. The purpose of this paper is twofold. One is to provide a first cut to understand the realities of CSOs and politics, using the above questions as a starter. There is no doubt that the interactions between the state and society, or the characteristics of political regimes, history, culture, people’s awareness, and institutional legacies all affect organizations’ self-evaluation regarding influence. Here, however, we attempt to understand such differences among countries by comparing JIGS (Japan Interest Group Survey) survey data. Another goal of this paper is to explore the meaning of SIS when we examine the relationships between each country’s SIS and related variables. This attempt makes important theoretical contributions to comparative empirical studies in the future.
Preliminary Analysis of the First Ever Nationwide Survey of Japanese Neighborhood Associations
Robert J. Pekkanen, University of Washington
Neighborhood associations in Japan blur the line between state and society. Inextricably local in their orientation, there is tremendous variation across the archipelago in how NHAs are organized and what they do. Unfortunately, scholars do not have a clear picture of this variation due to a lack of comparable data across the nation. The JIGS survey team led by Yutaka Tsujinaka of the University of Tsukuba is conducting the first nation-wide survey of Japan`s 300,000 neighborhood associations (NHAs) ever. Although a limited number of sureys of NHAs in delimited regions do exist, operational difficulties in implementation have prevented scholars from conducting a nationwide survey. The Japanese government has also not conducted any such survey. This paper presents the first results of the survey, discussing the distribution and vitality of NHAs across Japan. Beyond these organizational dimensions, the paper also investigates activities of the groups. Widespread variation is expected in the survey (which will be conducted in winter 2006-07) results. This paper will also present the results of the survey on the relationship between NHAs and the government. Specifically, we investigate variations in the patterns of relationship between NHAs and local governments across different regions in Japan—including the level of cooperation and support, as well as the differences in the scope of activities such as crime prevention, cleaning of the local environment, etc.
Chinese Social Organizations and Civil Society: Based on a Questionnaire Survey of Shehui Tuanti
Kazuko Kojima, University of Tsukuba, Japan
This paper aims to depict trends in the formation and growth of Chinese civil society, with the help of a set of data collected through the questionnaire survey on Chinese Social Organizations (part of the JIGS surveys led by Yutaka Tsujinaka of University of Tsukuba) conducted in the areas of Beijing, Zhejiang, and Heilongjiang 2001-2004. This survey includes only those NPOs that qualify under the rigid definition of social organizations (SO) specified by the Chinese Government. However, for these groups, we have obtained excellent and novel data. This paper analyzes the types of groups, their regional distribution, the resources (financial and staff) available to the organizations, and their relationship to the state and party. We see a change in establishment pattern (top-down vs. bottom-up) over time and analysis of the top down groups also reveals that a trend suggesting that top-down associations are slowly but steadily becoming constituency-oriented. However, the groups maintain close ties to the government that can be explained by the current political situation. Perhaps it is inevitable for SOs to use their relations with the government to obtain the necessary resources and political protection to pursue their own ends. Close ties help SOs enhance their credibility with ordinary people. Autonomy from the governments is not the best criterion in interpreting the evolution of civil society in China for the time being. However, neither can we rule out the idea that SOs, after achieving financial self-sufficiency, bit by bit may become independent from the government and lead to a civil society in China.
Civil Society and New Governance in Korea: Politicization of Civil Society Organizations in Democratic Consolidation
Jaeho Yeom, Korea University, Korea, Republic of
The Declaration of Democracy in 1987 ushered Korea from the authoritarian rule of military leaders onto the path of democratic consolidation. During the Kim Young Sam and the Kim Dae-Jung Administrations, Korea apparently achieved political democracy including electoral democracy and local autonomy. In the process of democratic consolidation, the role of civil society organizations has been conspicuous. This article explicates the status and characteristics of civil organizations in Korea. Using the data from the JIGS survey of Korea, it delineates their organizational properties including staffs and memberships, financial resources, and policy making mechanisms. In addition it selects three cases of the most influential political movements of civil organizations: the opposition to the Dong River dam construction; the demands of the minor stock holders for the democratic corporate governance of the chaebols; and the negative campaign against perceived undemocratic politicians in the general election. Although the political influence of major civil society organizations in Korea is unprecedentedly enormous, it does not necessarily show that Korea has entered a stage of advanced civil society. The political activities of civil organizations are limited to several organizations. Besides, the organizations are not run by the massive participation of the citizens but by the limited leaders of social elites such as professors, lawyers, and political activists. In sum, the political influence of civil society groups in Korea has increased to a great extent, but the prospect of new governance by the citizen participation in civil society still remains to be seen.