Abstract: This paper discusses the electrokinetic effects by way of nonlinear non-equilibrium thermodynamics. First, it explains the inconsistency of the experimental values with the old theory. Second, the paper introduces the approximate conditions, under which the old theory is used to deal with the electrokinetic effects. Last, a new idea is put forward that under certain conditions, so far as some liquid and membrane are concerned, the electrokinetic effects might appear to be of the dissipative structures when △P and △φ reach a certain value.