A Tale of Two Laws

Abstract

This chapter compares recent restrictions on foreign funding or the operation of foreign NGOs in Russia and China, including the 2012 law on “foreign agents” and the 2015 law on “undesirable” organizations in Russia and the 2017 law on the management of overseas NGOs in China. Using open sources and interview data, this chapter compares the development of these laws and their impact on domestic and international civil society groups in both countries. The chapter finds similarities in their timing and motivations for national security, their intentions to shape civil society, and their use of uncertainty as a strategic tool. They differ, however, in how quickly they were created, their choice of public versus private record, and their approach to implementation and punishment. Ultimately, the findings highlight how Russia and China use these laws to repress some groups while allowing others, striking a balance between liberalization and repression.