Religious Policies in Post-Totalitarian China: Maintaining Political Monopoly over a Reviving Society

Abstract

In the post-Mao era China's society & religion are both becoming increasingly pluralistic. State policies toward religion are also evolving. Views of state-society relations as "totalitarian" exaggerate the state's control; the civil-society approach overestimates society's autonomy. This paper explains the state's religious policies in terms of a "post-totalitarian" frame of reference. Religious organizations & the Communist Party share a reliance on ideology & organization to operate & survive, making them potential rivals. As a shrewd monopolist of organizational & ideological instruments, the state seeks to reduce the threat posed by religion, adopting differentiated strategies toward them as they revive. The state co-opts, tolerates, deters, restricts, or suppresses different religions or sects, according to each specific religion's organizational strength, doctrine, & compliance with state authority. The state is thus able to prevent the rise of large, independent, & organized religious groups while leaving considerable space for religious activity.