“Death and Life of China’s Civil Society”

..Ian Johnson argues (“Death and Life of China’s Civil Society”) that civil society perspectives help scholars to understand the socio-political changes underway in China. What is his argument and what evidence does he provide to support it? Does Tony Saich’s concept of “negotiating the state” help to understand how civil society matters in contemporary China? Does his article support Johnson’s argument? (Readings for June 8)