%0 Journal Article
%T Chinese youth and alternative narratives of volunteering
%A Anthony J. Spires
%J China Information
%@ 1741-590X
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/0920203X17752597
%X Over the past 20 years, volunteering has developed as a new field for governmental control and regulation of an emergent civil society. This article draws on interviews with 60 young volunteers in southern China, mostly university students and recent graduates. I contrast their experiences in off-campus, youth-led voluntary associations with the officially approved student organizations of normal university life. I argue that the instrumental organization of volunteers characterizes the party-state¡¯s efforts to funnel youthful enthusiasm and compassion into particular political projects and officially prescribed goals. Unhappy with the ¡®formalistic¡¯ nature of these activities, youth engaging in bottom¨Cup volunteer initiatives articulate other priorities, including a strong desire for meaningful, personal engagement that state-led programmes and university student organizations are typically unable to provide
%K volunteering
%K civil society
%K youth
%K non-governmental organizations
%K formalism
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0920203X17752597