TY - JOUR
T1 - Changing church–state relations in contemporary China
T2 - The case of Wenzhou Diocese
AU - Chan, Shun Hing
N1 - This research was supported by the Research Grants Council of the Universities
Grants Committee, Hong Kong (ref. HKBU 2430/06H)
PY - 2016/7
Y1 - 2016/7
N2 - This article examines the relationship between the state and the Catholic Church in Wenzhou in contemporary China from the perspective of institutional theory. There have been four phases of interaction between the state and the Catholic Church between 1980 and today, namely, religious restoration, tightened control over religion, the management of religion and limiting religious influence. During these phases, the state coerced the Catholic Church to adhere to its policies on religious institutions but also made concessions with the Catholic clergy during negotiations. In response to the state’s institutionalization of religion, the Church engaged in accommodation, negotiation, confrontation and resistance. More recently, the Church has adjusted its political position, moving towards increased resistance against state institutions. The article concludes with a discussion of the political implications of the church–state model in Wenzhou for religious freedom in China, reflecting the usefulness of institutional theory in Chinese society.
AB - This article examines the relationship between the state and the Catholic Church in Wenzhou in contemporary China from the perspective of institutional theory. There have been four phases of interaction between the state and the Catholic Church between 1980 and today, namely, religious restoration, tightened control over religion, the management of religion and limiting religious influence. During these phases, the state coerced the Catholic Church to adhere to its policies on religious institutions but also made concessions with the Catholic clergy during negotiations. In response to the state’s institutionalization of religion, the Church engaged in accommodation, negotiation, confrontation and resistance. More recently, the Church has adjusted its political position, moving towards increased resistance against state institutions. The article concludes with a discussion of the political implications of the church–state model in Wenzhou for religious freedom in China, reflecting the usefulness of institutional theory in Chinese society.
KW - Catholic Church
KW - China
KW - church–state relations
KW - institutionalization of religion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84971413264&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0268580916643258
DO - 10.1177/0268580916643258
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:84971413264
SN - 0268-5809
VL - 31
SP - 489
EP - 507
JO - International Sociology
JF - International Sociology
IS - 4
ER -