Moral Resources and Political Capital: Theorizing the Relationship Between Voluntary Service Organizations and the Development of Civil Society in China

Abstract

How can voluntary service organizations (VSOs) emerge and survive in a relatively conservative social and political environment? How can such organizations contribute to the development of civil society in contemporary China? To answer these questions, this study applies the qualitative approach and a triangulation of methods to a case study of the city of Jinan. The findings indicate that self-chosen moral resource I, socially recognized moral resource II, ascribed political capital I, and self-achieved political capital II are the key elements that have an impact on the development of civil society in China. Moral resource I is crucial to the success of VSOs in promoting civil society, whereas moral resource II, political capital I, and political capital II may help them to gain the government’s trust, thus facilitating their survival and growth in a relatively conservative social and political environment.