However one defines the nonprofit sector in China, it is growing rapidly, despite the legal and regulatory uncertainty surrounding it. By end of 2010, registered nonprofits in China will number about half a million, with millions more grassroots organizations operation outside the formal legal regime. Students of Chinese studies, pubic policy or social sciences cannot afford to lose sight of the social, political, cultural and career implications of the rising nonprofit sector in China.

This conference will convene leading scholars of China studies from across the U.S. to jointly build a systematic understanding of this sector, from the perspectives of history, public policy, political science, sociology, anthropology and law. The purpose of this meeting is purely exploratory to think about recent research, key issues in the field, and a possible future teaching and research agenda.

We have also invited four influencial Chinese nonprofit leaders, visionaries and scholars to join the discussion.

Non invited participants are asked to buy tickets. The ticket fee will help cover meals and drinks during the two-day conference. (It does not include key note speech dinner at Saturday evening. ) Participants will be responsible for their own travel and lodging.

For details of the agenda and speakers, please visit: http://www.hks.harvard.edu/hauser/conference-on-civil-society/