Governing “Untrustworthy” Civil Society in China

Abstract

The Chinese Party-state’s repression of politically sensitive social organizations is well-known. Less known, however, is how the central state has governed a broader range of social organizations that have violated laws or regulations and are hence considered “untrust-worthy” in the context of the social credit system. Analyzing over 22,000 entries of social organizations on the Ministry of Civil Affairs’ National Social Organization Credit Infor-mation Public Notification Platform, this study examines which social organizations are publicly designated as untrustworthy—and why—as well as punishments and possibilities for redemption. The study finds that, on the one hand, the Xi Jinping administration has increased governance transparency by selectively publicizing untrustworthy organizations through the social credit system and standardizing their punishments. On the other hand, the administration continues to be opaque about its treatment of more politically sensitive organizations, such as those advocating for civil rights or representing marginalized com-munities. By maintaining an incomplete public list of banned organizations, the Party-state preserves maximum discretionary power over the most politically threatening sector. This governance approach breaks from the past in rendering civil society more legible while con-tinuing the Party-state’s tradition of flexible control.