Examining Chinese Charitable Giving Under State Intervention: A Political Participation Perspective.

While it is prominent for governments across the globe to promote charitable giving, few governments directly intervene in charitable fundraising due to ethical and political risks. An exception is the Chinese government that has actively sought private donations. Using a national dataset of Chinese giving, this study explores from a general political participation perspective how individuals responded to different levels of state intervention in private charity. It finds that people made (a) voluntary donations (little state intervention) in relation to their social involvement and civic engagement, (b) suggested donations (e.g., the state called for donations) in relation to their civic participation and formal political participation, and (c) coerced donations (e.g., the state demanded donations) in relation to their personal bonds with the state. Thus, while appropriate state intervention seems productive, undue intervention may damage both charity and state legitimacy. Implications and suggestions for future research are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]