This work investigates inequality and social exclusion in contemporary
Chinese society, specifically in the context of urbanization, migration
and crime. Economic reforms started in the late 1970s (post-Mao) fuelled
a trend of urbanization and mass migration within China, largely from
rural areas to more economically developed urban regions. With this
migration, came new challenges in a rapidly changing society.
Researchers have extensively studied the rural-to-urban human movement,
social changes, inequality and its impact on individuals and society as
a whole.
This volume provides a new perspective on this issue. It forges a link
between internal migration, inequality, social exclusion and crime in
the context of China, through qualitative research into the impact of
this phenomenon on individuals' lives. Using a series of case studies
drawn from interviews with inmates - men and women - in a large Chinese
prison, it focuses on migrant offenders' subjective experiences, and
analyses issues from the rarely-heard perspectives of migrant
lawbreakers themselves. The research demonstrates how factors -
including: the hukou system, rural-urban, class and gender
inequalities, prejudices against rural migrants, and other structural
problems - often lead to migrant offending.
The author argues that to mitigate the effects of criminalisation, the
root causes of these problems should be examined, emphasizing radical
reforms to the hukou policy, cultural change in urban society to
welcome newcomers, positive programs to integrate migrant workers into
urban societies and improve their opportunities, rather than inflicting
harsher penalties or reducing migration. While the research is based in
China, it has clear implications for other regions of the world, which
are experiencing similar tensions related to national and international
migration.
This work will be of interest to researchers in criminology and criminal
justice, particularly with an interest in Asia, as well as those in
related fields such as sociology, law and social justice.
