Citation

Wang P. Br. J. Criminol. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Sociology, The University of Hong Kong, The Jockey Club Tower, Centennial Campus, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/bjc/azz065

PMID

31613962

Abstract

How does campaign-style law enforcement sustain authoritarian rule? Drawing on fieldwork data and published materials, this article enhances the understanding of law and politics in authoritarian regimes by investigating the role of the 'sweep away black' campaign-designed to combat organized and gang crime-in strengthening China's authoritarian regime. It argues that the campaign helps the party-state enhance its authoritarian rule by resolving the legitimacy crisis caused by economic slowdown, gangs' infiltration in grassroots political structures and problems of police corruption and shirking. But the campaign distorts the criminal justice system by demanding that criminal justice organs deliver severe and swift justice. It also harms China's private sector because local governments may expand the targets of repression to include private enterprises.

© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (ISTD). All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Language: en

Keywords

authoritarian rule; campaign-style law enforcement; legitimacy crisis; organized crime; severe and swift justice; the ‘sweep away black' campaign