This book combines empirical research and theoretical discussions to demonstrate that the civil society paradigm as a western concept could be applicable to the study of state-society relations in contemporary China. However, the growth of Chinese civil society does not necessarily present an adversarial or confrontational relationship between state and society, but rather it is a cooperative relationship based on common interests and mutual benefits between industrial associations and local governments. The findings of this research confirm that, in contrast to the conventional civil society model in Western and Eastern Europe, where civic organizations are independent of the state, challenging the state hegemony, Chinese civic organizations, however, still lack autonomy and even remain closely linked to the state, but they are growing and expanding their public space and important role in public affairs through active participation. This non-western path for civil society development is a precise reflection of reality that is profoundly shaped and constrained by Chinese institutional, sociological, and cultural context. Through close investigation into the industrial, organizational, and social governance of industrial associations in Wenzhou and in-depth analysis of their challenges and developments within the institutional context, this book provides fresh empirical evidence and insightful analysis of how industrial associations have actively participated in local industrial governance and conduct of public affairs, gained greater space for their development, and become indispensable partners of local government in social governance.

"The book is an important contribution toward understanding the path of civil society in China through industrial associations. Its empirical base provides strong ground for understanding the emergence of civil society under the socialist state." - Voluntas

"In this volume, Jianxing Yu, Jun Zhou and Hua Jiang offer a comprehensive and persuasive analysis of the development of industrial associations in Wenzhou, China...The authors acknowledge that not only are industrial associations far more developed than other sectors of civil society, but also that Wenzhou itself is unique to China. The Wenzhou model has long been associated with an unusual degree of market orientated development and private sector responsibility. Yet the authors are undoubtedly right in arguing that the case of Wenzhou’s industrial associations points to the conditions under which a fully-fledged civil society might eventually arise in China. Indeed, in this respect China is not qualitatively different from other states in which pluralism and civil society grow through the initiative of state actors in order to enable social actors to solve collective action problems that they are unable to solve themselves." - Journal of Contemporary Asia

"The book. . . contains a wealth of interesting new empirical information. ... The book’s chapters provide important insights in their own right, showcasing the merits of a close organizational analysis of industrial associations. ... Overall, this book is a valuable contribution to the literature on the wide variety of associations that have emerged in China since the 1980s. It is full of fresh empirical data, and the close organizational analysis sheds light on business associations in a particularly vibrant part of China. Industrial associations are now a ubiquitous part of China’s political-economic landscape, and the authors have provided an insightful picture of the issues and dilemmas these associations face in navigating the space between business and government." - China Information

"“What is the foundation of Chinese civil society, and what are its inherent factors? How do various social entities interact in Chinese political and social practices, and what are its inherent determinants? How are theories regarding the Chinese civil society integrated with political concepts in China, and what are the approaches to and methods of merging them?” These are the questions that inform Jianxing Yu and his colleagues’ new book on civil society, a must read for those interested in comparative politics and studies of China. ... What fundamental lessons can be derived from the study of WIAs? The authors’ answer is “the growth of civil society in China through participation in the governance of public affairs.”" - Journal of Chinese Political Science

"The book’s main contribution lies in its detailed description of the industrial associations, providing examples of relatively independent associations that do seek to serve their members and use multiple channels to influence government policy and behavior." - Journal of Asian Studies