Semiformal control and trinary control system in China

• In Event: Criminological and Criminal Justice Theories: Universal or Contextual?

Abstract

China employs a trinary control system—comprising formal, semiformal, and informal mechanisms—to maintain social order and control crime, in contrast to the Western binary system, which distinguishes only between formal and informal control. Recognizing the limited focus of existing literature on binary social control systems, Jiang and his associates have introduced the concepts of semiformal social control and semiformal organizations, ultimately leading to the development of the trinary social control system theory. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the evolution and advancement of semiformal social control and the trinary social control theory. Additionally, it addresses the limitations of current research on the trinary social control theory and outlines potential directions for future research.

Authors

• Shanhe Jiang, Wayne State University

• Dawei Zhang, Central China Normal University

• Xin Jiang, Tulane University