Chapter 11 Rejecting the Civil Society Paradigm
Chinese Christian Values and China’s Hegemonic Discourse
In: Citizens of Two Kingdoms: Civil Society and Christian Religion in Greater China
Author:
Gerda Wielander
Gerda Wielander
Search for other papers by Gerda Wielander in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Gerda Wielander in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Abstract
Drawing on the most recent research on Chinese Christianity, news reports, and the tightening regulatory landscape, this chapter proposes the Gramscian concept of a balanced hegemony to understand how Chinese churches operate. It argues that their actions and strategies need to be interpreted in conjunction with other Chinese social organizations rather than the historical behavior of churches in other parts of the world. The chapter further argues that the churches’ strategy of accommodation and consensus seeking ultimately did not provide protection and imay even have contributed to the more tightly defined space within which they must operate under Xi Jinping.