Thinking about Crime and Control: A Comparative Study of Chinese and American Ideology

Abstract

Although criminological interest in the People's Republic of China(PRC) has grown considerably, depictions of Chinese crime-related ideology are based largely on interviews with PRC officials, personal observations, and secondary source material. Using samples from the PRC and the United States, we explore cross-cultural differences and similarities in crime ideology. Three conclusions are suggested. First, in contrast with "official" crime ideology, PRC citizens are more likely to attribute criminal behavior to structural defects in the social order. Second, Chinese and American ideology overlaps to a considerable degree, with respondents in both nations manifesting multidimensional views on crime causation and social control. Third, despite similarities, cultural differences are also found, especially with regard to the exercise of state power within the criminal justice system.