Civil Society in China – Historical Legacies and the Latest Developments

In her new book, Civil Society in China: The Legal Framework from Ancient Times to the “New Reform Era,” Catholic University Professor Karla Simon provides both an historical and contemporary analysis of the legal framework for civil society and citizen participation in China. At a National Committee public program on May 2, Professor Simon discussed the historical development of China’s civil society and how social, economic and legal system reforms today will affect China’s civil society going forward.

BIO:

Karla W. Simon is professor of law at the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America (CUA). She is co-director of the Center for International Social Development at CUA, and an affiliated scholar at the U.S.-Asia Law Institute at New York University School of Law. She was previously a member of the faculties of the law schools at Seton Hall University and the University of San Diego, and she served as a visiting professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, Peking University, the University of Bologna, and Central European University.

Professor Simon’s scholarly interests include comparative civil society law, with a focus on China. Her many articles have been published in the Journal of Chinese Law, the Journal of Japanese Law, the Fordham International Law Journal, among others. She has written more than ten books and book chapters, most focusing on legal issues affecting civil society. Previous books include Outsourcing Social Services to Civil Society Organizations in China and Around the World (with Wang, Salamon & Irish 2009), Charity Law and Social Policy (with O’Halloran & McGregor-Lowndes 2008) and Guidelines for Laws Affecting Civic
Organizations (with Irish & Kushen 2004). She blogs on civil society in China at http://philanthropynews.alliancemagazine.org/

Politics & Foreign Relations

Politics & Foreign Relations

Recorded 5/2/2013