Anomie Theory and Crime in a Transitional China (1978—)

Abstract

This article examines the testability of Merton's anomie theory with regard to crime problems in the context of contemporary China. An overview of crime trends in China after the onset of economic reform in the early 1980s reveals distinctive crime patterns. The analysis of the criminogenic potential of socioeconomic transition in China suggests that these crime patterns with Chinese characteristics cannot be fully accounted for within the framework of the traditional anomie theory. A newly formulated institutional discrepancy-anomie theory is proposed arguing that the institutional discrepancies generated by coexistence of China's market-oriented economy and authoritarian polity contribute significantly to the dramatic increase in crime rates. The policy implication that the Chinese government should reconsider the undue emphasis on punitive crime control policy is presented.

Revisiting the Measurement of Anomie

“…Anomie has also been used to describe the state of society in countries undergoing massive structural change (e.g., Iran, see [ 3 , 4 ]), countries that face major social or economic crises [ 5 ], countries with a long history of war (e.g., Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, see [ 6 , 7 ]), or societies that face civil unrest (e.g., South Africa, [ 8 ]). Anomie has even been used to describe social contexts with relative prosperity, but where income inequality has eroded social capital and trust (e.g., the U.S., [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]), or where rapid economic growth has created instability and unrest (e.g., China, [ 12 ]).…”

On the Road to the Rule of Law: Crime, Crime Control, and Public Opinion in China

“…The modernization in China did not only liberate materialistic ambitions, as Deng Xiaoping encouraged a "getting rich is glorious" culture (Deng and Cordilia 1999;Zhao 2008;Cao 2007), it also speeded up the mobility of the population. Workplace and neighborhood, where the social bonds had been very strong and the informal control had been effective (Deng and Cordilia 1999), became less vital for individuals in China.…”

“…The collective forces are losing their authority gradually in China. A state of anomie, whether according to Durkheim (1964) or to Merton (1938), has developed in China as a result of rapid modernization (Liu and Messner 2001;Deng and Cordilia 1999;Zhao 2008;Cao 2007). The economic modernization generates great materialistic ambitions and needs, while social bonds, the informal control relied on in the past, are weakening.…”

The Psychology of Anomie

“…Anomie has even been used to describe social contexts with relative prosperity, but where income inequality has eroded social capital and trust (e.g., the U.S., Merton, 1938Merton, , 1968Messner & Rosenfeld, 2001), or where rapid economic growth has created instability and unrest (e.g., China, Zhao, 2008).…”

“…Anomie has been used to describe the state of society in many other countries that are undergoing major social and economic crises (e.g., Portugal, Lopes & Frade, 2012), countries with a long history of war (e.g., Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, see Jamieson, 1998;Meštrović & Lorenzo, 2008), countries with very high materialism, economic inequality and very low social capital and trust (e.g., the U.S., see Merton, 1938Merton, , 1968Messner & Rosenfeld, 2001), countries with very rapid economic growth and social changes (e.g., China, see Zhao, 2008), and many Eastern European countries after the fall of the Soviet Union (Ådnanes, 2007;Genov, 1998).…”