Peng Wang
The University of Hong Kong, Sociology, Faculty Member
- Law, Criminology, Organized Crime, Private Ordering, Asian Criminal Groups, Crime-Terror Nexus, and 20 moreGuanxi, Mafia, Crime, China, Triads, Cosa nostra, China studies, Corruption, Contemporary China, Chinatowns, Police Corruption, Extralegality, Extra-Legal Governance, Private Protection, Human Rights, Terrorism, Chinese Studies, Police and Policing, Transnational Organized Crime, and Counter terrorismedit
- Peng Wang is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, the University of Hong Kong (HKU). He is an Honorary... morePeng Wang is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, the University of Hong Kong (HKU). He is an Honorary Fellow of HKU’s Centre for Criminology and an associate member of the Extra-legal Governance Institute at the University of Oxford. He holds a PhD in Law and an MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice from King’s College London. His research focuses on organized crime, corruption, police and policing, informal institutions, and China studies.
He is the author of The Chinese Mafia: Organized Crime, Corruption, and Extra-legal Protection (Oxford University Press, 2017). The most significant features of this book include: (1) it offers the first scholarly account of the rise of the Chinese Mafia in contemporary China based on published materials and fieldwork data; (2) it presents an innovative new theory, Socio-Economic Theory, in the study of the mafia; (3) it examines the conflict between laws and guanxi (the Chinese version of interpersonal networks) and explores the embeddedness of the extra-legal protection business into social networks; (4) it studies two major types of extra-legal institution: Red Mafia (corrupt public officials) and Black Mafia (street gangsters); their formation, roles and collusion.
Since joining HKU in summer 2014, Peng has published three articles in The British Journal of Criminology, one of world’s top criminology journals, and four articles in The China Quarterly, the world’s leading China Studies journal. Other works appeared in journals such as Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, Journal of Contemporary China, Survival: Global Politics and Strategy, The RUSI Journal, Trends in Organized Crime, and Global Crime. He is currently working on the politics of crime control and the role of patronage networks in the Chinese bureaucratic system.edit
The term “red mafia” has been increasingly used by researchers in the field of organized crime and corruption, but no consensus has been made on what it means. Russian criminologists use “red mafia” to refer to Russian organized crime... more
The term “red mafia” has been increasingly used by researchers in the field of organized crime and corruption, but no consensus has been made on what it means. Russian criminologists use “red mafia” to refer to Russian organized crime groups in general or organized crime groups in the post- Soviet context. Chinese criminologists, however, define “red mafia” as groups or networks of cor- rupt Communist Party members who earn illicit profits, mainly from abusing public office and selling protection. Completely different under- standings of what the red mafia is and how it works hinders theoretical and empirical advance- ment. This entry discusses conceptual ambiguity and confusion in the literature and offers recom- mendations for future research directions.
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How does guanxi facilitate corrupt transactions? Utilizing fieldwork data and published materials, this paper investigates how guanxi practices distort the formal military promotion system and facilitate the buying and selling of military... more
How does guanxi facilitate corrupt transactions? Utilizing fieldwork data and published materials, this paper investigates how guanxi practices distort the formal military promotion system and facilitate the buying and selling of military positions in the People's Liberation Army (PLA). It identifies the three key functions of guanxi in facilitating corrupt transactions: communication , exchange and neutralization. Guanxi enables effective and safe communication among corrupt military officers, holds transaction partners to their word, and neutralizes their guilt about committing corrupt acts.
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A popular sentiment among Chinese that - corruption could lead to the end of the state and anti-corruption could lead to the end of the Chinese Communist Party - provides a unique perspective from which to interpret China’s current... more
A popular sentiment among Chinese that - corruption could lead to the end of the state and anti-corruption could lead to the end of the Chinese Communist Party - provides a unique perspective from which to interpret China’s current prospects for institutional reform. This paper offers an assessment of the scandal involving Chongqing party secretary, Central Politburo member and former Minister for Commerce Bo Xilai, and identifies the underlying reasons for the deepening of corruption in Chinese politics. We argue that campaign-style anti-corruption efforts such as President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on ‘tigers’ and ‘flies’ (powerful leaders and lowly bureaucrats) although useful for establishing the new leadership’s presence have limited impact on elite and systemic corruption and can be camouflage for proxy power struggles, which impede China’s political development.
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黑手党产权保护理论在西方影响甚广，其核心是将“黑手党” (Mafia) 定义为：生产、销售和分配私人保护的、特殊的有组织犯罪集团。该学派创始人迭戈·甘贝塔 (Diego Gambetta) 通过对于意大利西西里黑手党的实证研究，成功地诠释了政府失灵与黑手党产生的辩证关系，推导出导致黑手党组织产生和发展的两大因素，即私人保护的需求和供给。沿着甘贝塔的脚步，本文结合中国现实，详细论述了中国经济改革与“ 法外保护... more
黑手党产权保护理论在西方影响甚广，其核心是将“黑手党” (Mafia) 定义为：生产、销售和分配私人保护的、特殊的有组织犯罪集团。该学派创始人迭戈·甘贝塔 (Diego Gambetta) 通过对于意大利西西里黑手党的实证研究，成功地诠释了政府失灵与黑手党产生的辩证关系，推导出导致黑手党组织产生和发展的两大因素，即私人保护的需求和供给。沿着甘贝塔的脚步，本文结合中国现实，详细论述了中国经济改革与“ 法外保护 组织”兴起的辩证关系。改革开放以来，私有制产权的普遍确立使得民众对于权利保护的需求呈
现出几何式增长。然而，中国法律对于产权的含糊界定、转型期的腐败问题，以及薄弱的司法体系，都使得中国政府不能够为市场主体提供全面、有效和平等的保护。法律保护的缺失形成的权力真空，成为 法外保护 组织产生的根本原因。在这种情况下，犯罪分子在利益驱动下组成 法外保护 组织( ( 如地下出警队) ) ，他们提供的服务主要包括两大领域：一是帮助企业参与市场竞争和垄断市场，二是“协助”地方政府发展地方经济。
现出几何式增长。然而，中国法律对于产权的含糊界定、转型期的腐败问题，以及薄弱的司法体系，都使得中国政府不能够为市场主体提供全面、有效和平等的保护。法律保护的缺失形成的权力真空，成为 法外保护 组织产生的根本原因。在这种情况下，犯罪分子在利益驱动下组成 法外保护 组织( ( 如地下出警队) ) ，他们提供的服务主要包括两大领域：一是帮助企业参与市场竞争和垄断市场，二是“协助”地方政府发展地方经济。
Research Interests: China and China studies
Since China initiated its economic reforms in 1978, illegal gambling has become the primary source of revenue for organized crime groups. However, there remains a startling paucity of literature on the subject. This paper provides the... more
Since China initiated its economic reforms in 1978, illegal gambling has become the primary source of revenue for organized crime groups. However, there remains a startling paucity of literature on the subject. This paper provides the first scholarly account in English of Chinese
illegal gambling organizations and examines how three major types of enterprising entities
(local gambling dens, trans-regional gambling rings and online gambling networks) mitigate
external uncertainties. Using Chinese- and English-language sources, it explores how gambling organizations develop strategies to achieve optimal efficiency in the face of substantial challenges, including finance, marketing, debt collection and police suppression.
illegal gambling organizations and examines how three major types of enterprising entities
(local gambling dens, trans-regional gambling rings and online gambling networks) mitigate
external uncertainties. Using Chinese- and English-language sources, it explores how gambling organizations develop strategies to achieve optimal efficiency in the face of substantial challenges, including finance, marketing, debt collection and police suppression.
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The North Korean government has long been suspected of involvement in state-sponsored drug production and trafficking. Research in this field is hampered by the secrecy of the DPRK regime and the dearth of reliable sources. Nonetheless,... more
The North Korean government has long been suspected of involvement in state-sponsored drug production and trafficking. Research in this field is hampered by the secrecy of the DPRK regime and the dearth of reliable sources. Nonetheless, using Chinese- and English-language sources, this paper looks at developments over the past decade, intensified counter-narcotics co-operation between the Chinese and South Korean police forces, and the failure of the North Korean government to control private involvement in the illicit drug business, which has had an unexpected outcome: a crystal-meth epidemic. These trends expose a severe threat to Northeast Asia and the wider international community.
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This paper incorporates the concept of guanxi—a Chinese version of personal connections, networks or social capital—into the discussion of police corruption and the rise of extra-legal protectors. Using published materials and fieldwork... more
This paper incorporates the concept of guanxi—a Chinese version of personal connections, networks or social capital—into the discussion of police corruption and the rise of extra-legal protectors. Using published materials and fieldwork data collected from two Chinese cities (Chongqing and Qufu), it demonstrates how guanxi distorts China’s legal system by facilitating the buying and selling of public offices and promoting the formation of corrupt networks between locally based criminals and government officials. China’s weak legal framework encourages individuals and entrepreneurs to employ guanxi networks to obtain private protection from alternative suppliers (e.g. corrupt government officials and street gangsters) in order to protect property rights, facilitate transactions and fend off government extortion.
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黑手党产权保护理论在西方影响甚广，其核心是将“黑手党”（Mafia）定义为：生产、销售和分配私人保护的、特殊的有组织犯罪集团。该学派创始人Diego... more
黑手党产权保护理论在西方影响甚广，其核心是将“黑手党”（Mafia）定义为：生产、销售和分配私人保护的、特殊的有组织犯罪集团。该学派创始人Diego Gambetta通过对于意大利西西里黑手党的实证研究，成功地诠释了政府失灵与黑手党产生的辩证关系，推导出导致黑手党组织产生和发展的两大因素，即私人保护的需求和供给。沿着Gambetta的脚步，本文结合中国现实，将此类组织归为黑社会（性质）组织的重要组成部分，称其为“法外保护组织”，并详细论述了中国经济改革与法外保护组织兴起的辩证关系。改革开放以来，中国经济实现了由计划经济体制向市场经济体制过渡的重大转变。私有制产权的普遍确立使得民众对于权利保护的需求呈现出几何式增长。然而，中国法律对于产权的含糊界定，转型期中国政府的腐败问题，以及薄弱的司法体系，都使得中国政府不能够为市场主体提供全面、有效和平等的保护。法律保护的缺失形成的权力真空，成为法外保护组织产生的根本原因。在这种情况下，犯罪分子在利益驱动下组成法外保护组织（如地下出警队），经营私人保护业务，在中国经济转轨时期成为政府的替代机构，通过暴力“保护”私有产权。这些黑手党性质组织提供的服务主要包括两大领域：一是帮助企业参与市场竞争和垄断市场，二是“协助”地方政府发展地方经济。
黑手党如何进行跨境运作？本文是对意大利那不勒斯市的一个克莫拉组织——拉•特瑞家族——进行了深入研究后的成果。这项研究基于特殊的数据库，即意大利警察对于黑手党成员电话窃听记录。数据显示，这一黑手党组织的确生产并提供了法外保护，但是这类服务的供给仅限于该组织的大本营。黑手党组织向海外发展伴随着功能的多元化，它通过建立分支机构来实施具体的活动。黑手党在本土和海外的经营策略差异巨大，可以归纳为管理型和交易型两大类型。总体上：海外分支依然高度依赖其大本营。最后，本文提出一个分析框架来更... more
黑手党如何进行跨境运作？本文是对意大利那不勒斯市的一个克莫拉组织——拉•特瑞家族——进行了深入研究后的成果。这项研究基于特殊的数据库，即意大利警察对于黑手党成员电话窃听记录。数据显示，这一黑手党组织的确生产并提供了法外保护，但是这类服务的供给仅限于该组织的大本营。黑手党组织向海外发展伴随着功能的多元化，它通过建立分支机构来实施具体的活动。黑手党在本土和海外的经营策略差异巨大，可以归纳为管理型和交易型两大类型。总体上：海外分支依然高度依赖其大本营。最后，本文提出一个分析框架来更好地理解犯罪组织的跨境活动：驳斥“跨国有组织犯罪”(transnational organized crime)这一概念，并提出一个新的分类方法来更好地解读黑手党组织如何在海外进行活动。
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黑手党产权经济学理论源于二十世纪九十年代，是迄今为止西方有组织犯罪研究领域影响力最广的理论体系。该理论已被广泛地应用于世界各国的黑手党( 犯罪保护) 组织的研究中。文章将详细论述: 黑手党的概念、性质、起源理论和海外移植理论。通过这四个方面的论述，让中国学者对于该理论有了全面的了解。
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"With the growing global importance of China, Chinese organised crime has become a growing non-military threat to national and international security. Peng Wang focuses on the three dimensions of Chinese organised crime: the resurgence of... more
"With the growing global importance of China, Chinese organised crime has become a growing non-military threat to national and international security. Peng Wang focuses on the three dimensions of Chinese organised crime: the resurgence of the criminal underworld and rampant police corruption in mainland China; cross-border crime in Greater China; and Chinese organised crime overseas, including in the UK. The national, regional and international threats posed by ethnic-Chinese criminal groups require the law-enforcement agencies of both China and those countries hosting Chinese communities to improve their response strategies as a matter of urgency.
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黑手党产权经济学理论是盛行于西方的有组织犯罪理论。该理论着重研究从事犯罪保护和法外执行的犯罪集团，这对于中国大陆学者探讨新形式的犯罪具有重要价值。然而，黑手党理论的移植需结合中国现状，即：中国社会中关系与法的共存，使得中国的法外保护与腐败紧密相联。法外保护的提供者不仅仅局限于有组织犯罪集团，腐败官员已成为犯罪保护商品的主要供给者。犯罪组织通过关系网建立警（官）匪联系、获得犯罪保护；腐败官员通过关系网进行权力寻租、获取非法利益。事实上，腐败交易双方所形成的关系网成为促进犯罪交易... more
黑手党产权经济学理论是盛行于西方的有组织犯罪理论。该理论着重研究从事犯罪保护和法外执行的犯罪集团，这对于中国大陆学者探讨新形式的犯罪具有重要价值。然而，黑手党理论的移植需结合中国现状，即：中国社会中关系与法的共存，使得中国的法外保护与腐败紧密相联。法外保护的提供者不仅仅局限于有组织犯罪集团，腐败官员已成为犯罪保护商品的主要供给者。犯罪组织通过关系网建立警（官）匪联系、获得犯罪保护；腐败官员通过关系网进行权力寻租、获取非法利益。事实上，腐败交易双方所形成的关系网成为促进犯罪交易、降低交易成本和逃避法律制裁的重要机制。因此，腐败关系网是中国最具特色的、也是最为重要的法外保护形式。
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While Hong Kong's 14K triad gang dominates its traditional areas of operation and has expanded far beyond the former British colony, its focus remains Sino-centric.This paper follows its development and assesses the international threat... more
While Hong Kong's 14K triad gang dominates its traditional areas of operation and has expanded far beyond the former British colony, its focus remains Sino-centric.This paper follows its development and assesses the international threat it poses.
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Abstract: There is an increasing trend towards' mainlandisation'of criminal activities by triads based in Hong Kong and Taiwan, who see market opportunities on the Chinese mainland driven by the booming economy and police corruption. The... more
Abstract: There is an increasing trend towards' mainlandisation'of criminal activities by triads based in Hong Kong and Taiwan, who see market opportunities on the Chinese mainland driven by the booming economy and police corruption. The principal triad interest is in gambling, although prostitution and drug trafficking also figure as lucrative illegal activities.
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Abstract: The Nie Lei Company was a powerful and influential organized crime group in the Chinese city of Qingdao until a concerted state operation closed it down in 2010. This paper looks at the group's legacy on the political-criminal... more
Abstract: The Nie Lei Company was a powerful and influential organized crime group in the Chinese city of Qingdao until a concerted state operation closed it down in 2010. This paper looks at the group's legacy on the political-criminal nexus in China. Despite the collapse of the powerful Nie Lei Company in China, there are suggestions that its legacy has left a structure in place for similar organized crime groups to operate.
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Abstract: Organised criminals affilitated to the Big Circle Boys (BCB) have spread from mainland China into Western Europe and North America. This paper analyses the group's origins and areas of operation. details its activities and... more
Abstract: Organised criminals affilitated to the Big Circle Boys (BCB) have spread from mainland China into Western Europe and North America. This paper analyses the group's origins and areas of operation. details its activities and explains why it is so hard to detect and combat.
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Abstract The crime-terror nexus includes two independent, but related, components. First, it incorporates the straightforward involvement in criminal activities by terrorists as a source of funding, and second, it refers to the linkages... more
Abstract The crime-terror nexus includes two independent, but related, components. First, it incorporates the straightforward involvement in criminal activities by terrorists as a source of funding, and second, it refers to the linkages between organized criminal organizations and terrorist groups. Indeed, the criminal and political organizations appear to be learning from each other, adopting each other's tactics and strategies and frequently partner with one another.
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‘Red Mafia’ is the collective term for corrupt public officials in mainland China, mainly from the criminal justice system, who attempt to monopolise the protection business in the criminal underworld by abusing power. In contemporary... more
‘Red Mafia’ is the collective term for corrupt public officials in mainland China, mainly from the criminal justice system, who attempt to monopolise the protection business in the criminal underworld by abusing power. In contemporary mainland China, the Red Mafia has developed into an alternative system of governance that can control organised crime groups, enable them to flourish, and protect them where strong government and effective self-protection associations are absent. The author examines organised crime and corruption by analysing the Wen Qiang case, one of the most famous and widely publicised cases in Chongqing’s latest crime crackdown campaign. Drawing on interview data and extensive published materials, this paper offers a tentative definition of ‘Red Mafia’, develops a typology of organised crime, describes the emergence of the Red Mafia in China, explores how gangsters developed relationships with public officials, suggests why organised crime groups chose the Red Mafia as their preferred protection and enforcement mechanism, examines patterns of services provided, and explores the differences between the Red Mafia and other Mafia groups.
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Gambetta’s theoretical framework focuses on two important aspects directly relating to the birth and development of mafias, namely a demand for private protection and a supply of the same. In the Post-Mao era, China started its transition... more
Gambetta’s theoretical framework focuses on two important aspects directly relating to the birth and development of mafias, namely a demand for private protection and a supply of the same. In the Post-Mao era, China started its transition from a centrally controlled economy to a market-directed economy by adopting reform and opening-up policies. The widespread creation of property rights has exponentially enlarged the demand for protection. However, property rights are ambiguously defined in the Chinese legal system, and the state is unable and unwilling to provide efficient and sufficient law enforcement mechanisms for needy people because of the rampant corruption of government officials and the weak judicial system. In this case, the mafia that is interested in the private provision of protection developed into an alternative enforcement mechanism for ‘securing’ property rights in China’s economic transition. The most important service offered by the mafia in China is not only to assist business enterprises in monopolising the market, but also to assist local government in China’s economic reform.