Social organizations are also called NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations). The UN's description of an NGO is as follows: An NGO is a non-profit, voluntary citizens' organization formed at the local, national or international level. Since China's reform and opening up to the outside world, its society and economy have both experienced fast development, and the standard of living of the population has risen rapidly. At the same time, some social problems and social demands have in- evitably emerged. In the process of seeking solutions to these social problems and satisfactory outcomes for these social de- mands, people have discovered that there are limitations to the solutions which can be provided by the government and the market.

Introduction: Social Organizations Are an Important

  Force in Building a Harmonious Society

Chapter 1 Seeking Harmony from Diversity

  I. Formation of a Diversified Society in China

  II. Social Organizations Are the Inevitable Outcome of

  a Diversified Society

 III. The Rise of Social Organizations in China

Chapter 2 Cooperation Between China's Social Organizations and the Government

  I. The Restructuring of Government: Building a Service-oriented Government

  II. The Relationship Between the Government and Social Organizations

Chapter 3 Social Organizations Operate As Social

  Regulators

  I. The Chinese Social Organization and Their Assistant to the Poor

  II. Chinese Social Organizations and Women's Development

 III. Volunteer Services in China

 IV. Chinese Social Organizations and Public Crises

Chapter 4 China's Political Democratization and

  Autonomous Grassroots Organizations

  I. Progress of China's Political Democratization

  II. Autonomy for Chinese Villagers

 III. Autonomy for China's Urban Community

Postscript