Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.12, 2014

Institutional Analysis of the Multi-Layered Character of Chinese Social Organizations

(Abstract)

Wang Shizong, Song Chengcheng and Xu Lu

The actual situation and recent theoretical findings show that the independence and autonomy of social organizations are concepts that are related but non-substitutable in nature. The relationship between the two in actual conjunctions is a complex one. Study of their connective mechanisms is a necessary step in constructing and developing an overall interpretation of the characteristics of Chinese social organizations. Integrating the resource dependence theory and the institutional logic perspective, we explore the multiple mechanisms affecting independence and autonomy at the organizational level and test them using mixed method research design. Our empirical results show that the more independent social organizations are from government resources, the greater their autonomy; and the greater their identity (structural identity/action identity) with the classic idea of the third sector, the greater their autonomy. Such organizations’ action identity can provide positive adjustment to the relationship between independence and autonomy. Further case studies confirm the value of the above findings. This shows that other mechanisms may replace, offset or constrain the effects of resource dependence. In the immediate situation, it is not possible to arrive at a single conclusion on the relationship between organizational independence and autonomy.