Understanding the Transformation of Homicide in Macao: Towards a Theory of Casinoization

• In Event: Critical Perspectives on Emergent and Current Issues

Abstract

Using a unique Macao Homicide database, official statistics, and interviews with law enforcement agencies, this paper examines the transformation of homicide in Macao SAR, China over the past four decades and its reasons. Three trends have been identified, including less violence, feminization of victims and Mainlandization of victims and offenders. First, homicide has gradually become less violent, as evidenced by the declining overall number of homicide cases, the declining use of premeditated weapons, the declining number of dismemberment cases, and the declining number of multiple victims in one case. Second, the feminization of victims has emerged as a unique phenomenon, which is contradictory to homicide cases in most other societies. Third, Mainland Chinese citizens have taken up an increasing percentage of both victims and offenders. We argue that Macao’s homicide transformation could largely be explained by how the casino industry develops in Macao society, including the pacification of violence in the casino industry, and the Mainlandization of both customers and predators in the casino industry. This paper contributes to the development of the theory of the casinoization of Macao society and enriches our understanding of homicide from a global comparative perspective.

Author

• Jianhua Xu, University of Macau