Contractual controls and pragmatic professionalism: A qualitative study on contracting social services in China

Jie LEI; Tian CAI; Chak Kwan CHAN

doi:10.1177/02610183221089009

Contractual controls and pragmatic professionalism: A qualitative study on contracting social services in China

Jie LEI, Tian CAI^*, Chak Kwan CHAN

^*Corresponding author for this work

Lingnan University

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study used the contracting projects of a district branch of the Women's Federation in Guangzhou as case examples to demonstrate both the Chinese state's contractual controls over social work organisations (SWOs) and the pragmatic response strategies of SWOs and professionals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventeen participants, including local officials of the Women's Federation and social workers from contracted SWOs. It was found that with the ultimate goal of consolidating the legitimacy of the Communist Party of China, the Women's Federation's dual role in politics and service provision had led to normative, managerial, technical and relational controls over SWOs. SWOs and professionals were generally submissive to these controls, but they employed diverse coping strategies, including compliance, bargaining, transformation and investment in personal relationships. The interactions within the contractual relationship created a pragmatic professionalism that embraced dominant political ideologies, employed de-politicising techniques, and personally depended on individual officials.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	97-118
Number of pages	22
Journal	Critical Social Policy
Volume	43
Issue number	1
Early online date	25 Apr 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/02610183221089009
Publication status	Published - Feb 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study received the funding from the DWF. Meanwhile, the authors are grateful for the support from Ms. Chunhuan Han, Ms. Yanling Xie, and all the research participants from the DWF and the SWOs as described in this article.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022.

Keywords

contracting social service
non-governmental organisation
social work in china
state control
women’s federation

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1177/02610183221089009Licence: CC BY

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02610183221089009

Cite this

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title = "Contractual controls and pragmatic professionalism: A qualitative study on contracting social services in China",

abstract = "This study used the contracting projects of a district branch of the Women's Federation in Guangzhou as case examples to demonstrate both the Chinese state's contractual controls over social work organisations (SWOs) and the pragmatic response strategies of SWOs and professionals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventeen participants, including local officials of the Women's Federation and social workers from contracted SWOs. It was found that with the ultimate goal of consolidating the legitimacy of the Communist Party of China, the Women's Federation's dual role in politics and service provision had led to normative, managerial, technical and relational controls over SWOs. SWOs and professionals were generally submissive to these controls, but they employed diverse coping strategies, including compliance, bargaining, transformation and investment in personal relationships. The interactions within the contractual relationship created a pragmatic professionalism that embraced dominant political ideologies, employed de-politicising techniques, and personally depended on individual officials.",

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author = "Jie LEI and Tian CAI and CHAN, {Chak Kwan}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study received the funding from the DWF. Meanwhile, the authors are grateful for the support from Ms. Chunhuan Han, Ms. Yanling Xie, and all the research participants from the DWF and the SWOs as described in this article. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2022.",

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AU - CHAN, Chak Kwan

N1 - Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study received the funding from the DWF. Meanwhile, the authors are grateful for the support from Ms. Chunhuan Han, Ms. Yanling Xie, and all the research participants from the DWF and the SWOs as described in this article. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2022.

PY - 2023/2

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N2 - This study used the contracting projects of a district branch of the Women's Federation in Guangzhou as case examples to demonstrate both the Chinese state's contractual controls over social work organisations (SWOs) and the pragmatic response strategies of SWOs and professionals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventeen participants, including local officials of the Women's Federation and social workers from contracted SWOs. It was found that with the ultimate goal of consolidating the legitimacy of the Communist Party of China, the Women's Federation's dual role in politics and service provision had led to normative, managerial, technical and relational controls over SWOs. SWOs and professionals were generally submissive to these controls, but they employed diverse coping strategies, including compliance, bargaining, transformation and investment in personal relationships. The interactions within the contractual relationship created a pragmatic professionalism that embraced dominant political ideologies, employed de-politicising techniques, and personally depended on individual officials.

AB - This study used the contracting projects of a district branch of the Women's Federation in Guangzhou as case examples to demonstrate both the Chinese state's contractual controls over social work organisations (SWOs) and the pragmatic response strategies of SWOs and professionals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventeen participants, including local officials of the Women's Federation and social workers from contracted SWOs. It was found that with the ultimate goal of consolidating the legitimacy of the Communist Party of China, the Women's Federation's dual role in politics and service provision had led to normative, managerial, technical and relational controls over SWOs. SWOs and professionals were generally submissive to these controls, but they employed diverse coping strategies, including compliance, bargaining, transformation and investment in personal relationships. The interactions within the contractual relationship created a pragmatic professionalism that embraced dominant political ideologies, employed de-politicising techniques, and personally depended on individual officials.

KW - contracting social service

KW - non-governmental organisation

KW - social work in china

KW - state control

KW - women’s federation

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DO - 10.1177/02610183221089009

M3 - Journal Article (refereed)

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SP - 97

EP - 118

JO - Critical Social Policy

JF - Critical Social Policy

IS - 1

ER -

Contractual controls and pragmatic professionalism: A qualitative study on contracting social services in China

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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