The author argues that NPOS are an important part of contemporary society and that in many country they play a key role in political systems. According to research comparing NPOs in 26 countries carried out by Prof. Lester Salamen, NPOs can be divided in 11 different types: education, health, public welfare, culture,professional organizations, dwelling development, international cooperation, citizens’ advocacy, environmental protection, charity and religion.
In China, NPOs have long faced restrictions and therefore their development has been slow. As a result, China lags long behind the USA where workers of the third sector represent 10% of the country’s workforce and 12% of GDP. In a country of a 1.3 billion population, only two universities propose NPO related majors to students (the Zhuhai Branch of Beijing Normal University opened a charity major in 2012 and Sun Yat-Sen University opened a charity master’s degree in 2013).
The author explains that a strong third sector is essential to favor the development of a strong and healthy society and stresses that the government should encourage initiatives whichi goal is to nurture NPOs. He concludes by saying that legislation to promote the development of the third sector should be included in the discussions about the “Thirteenth Five-Year Plan” at the national and local level.
