In some cases, neighborhood associations exist simultaneously with HOAs, and each may not encompass identical boundaries.
There exists four general frameworks to understanding how a local organization, such as a neighborhood association, may straddle the state-society realm.
The Civil Society theory is considered the least statist and here the local associations are extremely self-reliant.
Between the most and least statist points are corporatist and state-society synergy; they operate with government and depend on its sponsorship but remain free from direct control.
China, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Thailand provide examples of how the four frameworks and statism levels play a role in guiding the overall purpose and ultimate goal of the neighborhood-based organizations in each county.