State-sponsored Activism: How China's Law Reforms Impact NGOs' Legal Practice

Abstract

This study examines legal opportunity under authoritarianism using the case of China’s recent “law-based governance” reforms, including the judicial reforms and those that have established NGOs’ public interest standing and expanded legal aid coverage. Based on in-depth interviews with employees of law-related NGOs working in various fields, it finds that the reforms have helped most of these organizations expand their litigation practices, social and legislative influence, and funding sources despite the generally tightening political control over the social sector. These findings show how authoritarian regimes can effectively utilize a dualist strategy that blend supportive and repressive approaches to public participation in the legal process and shed light on the progression of authoritarian legality within various political and institutional contexts.