Overview

Based on years of fieldwork and interviews with 129 human smugglers as well as scores of government and law enforcement officials, this book presents a rare look into the secretive world of the ""snakeheads"" (human smugglers) whose ingenious endeavors have transported hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants into the United States and other Western countries. The book is rich with vivid accounts of how groups of opportunistic entrepreneurs form loosely connected social circles to accomplish seemingly complex transnational negotiations. Zhang's findings and analyses challenge many widespread misconceptions about these smugglers in particular and Chinese organized crime in general. Bound together by little more than the pursuit of profit, these otherwise ordinary men have demonstrated remarkable flexibility in adapting to market and socio-legal constraints. The author's concept of the ""dyadic cartwheel network"" integrates major theoretical constructs to explain how and why freelance operators have come to dominate the human smuggling enterprise instead of traditional crime syndicate.

Full Product Details

Author:   Sheldon X. Zhang
Publisher:   Stanford University Press
Imprint:   Stanford University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 58.50cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.531kg
ISBN:  

9780804757416

ISBN 10:   0804757410
Pages:   277
Publication Date:   07 March 2008
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Contents Preface xxx Acknowledgments xxx PART ONE. SNAKEHEADS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING 1. Coming to America: Illegal Chinese Migration to the United States 3 2. Becoming a Snakehead 000 3. Recruitment, Preparation, and Departure 000 4. Smuggling Activities in Transit 000 5. Arrival and Payment Collection 000 6. Making Money from Human Smuggling 000 PART TWO. THE HUMAN SMUGGLING ORGANIZATION 7. Organizational and Operational Characteristics 000 8. The Dyadic Cartwheel Network 000 9. Human Smuggling and Traditional Chinese Organized Crime 000 10. Women and Chinese Human Smuggling 000 11. Future of Chinese Human Smuggling 000 Appendix A: Research Sites 000 Appendix B: Research Method 000 Notes 000 Glossary 000 References 000 Index 000 Tables, Figures, and Maps Tables 2.1. Demographics of Snakehead Subjects 000 2.2. Subjects' Employment Status 000 2.3. Involvement in Smuggling Activities 000 6.1. Smuggling Fees and Earnings 000 6.2. Prices of Specific Smuggling Services 000 7.1. Characteristics of Smuggling Organizations 000 7.2. Roles in Smuggling Business 000 9.1. A Comparison of Triad-Type Organizations and Human Smuggling Groups 000 10.1. Demographics of Snakehead Subjects by Gender 000 10.2. Method of Entry, Source of Clients and Motives by Gender 000 10.3. Primary Specialties in Smuggling Business by Gender 000 Figures 7.1. Smuggling Task Force Formation and Process of Operations 000 8.1. The Dyadic Cartwheel Network--A Conceptual Diagram of Chinese Human Smuggling Organizations 000 8.2. A Conceptual Diagram of the Task-Force Orientation of Chinese Human Smuggling Organizations 000 10.1. A Schematic Diagram of the Conditional Market Perspective 000 Maps 1.Map of China 000 2.Map of Fujian Province 000

Reviews

This highly informative and data-rich book sheds new light on a topical and popular criminological subject. It is highly recommended to all those who are interested in transnational crime studies. -- Trends in Organized Crime

It is a path-breaking book ... [T]his book is an important addition to a rising list of recent books to understand the international migration from China's Fujian province. It provides extremely valuable empirical knowledge about smuggling operation. Its innovative theoretical model proves to be very useful in explaining Chinese human smuggling and also holds potential for examining human smuggling in other settings as well. - Zai Lang, China Review International Zhang offers some very stark conclusions and recommendations ... [An] important and timely book. - James O. Finckernauer, American Journal of Sociology Chinese Human Smuggling Organizations is an important book that offers essential information for policy makers, law enforcement, and academics interested in this large and profitable illicit market. - University of Toronto, Margaret Beare This highly informative and data-rich book sheds new light on a topical and popular criminological subject. It is highly recommended to all those who are interested in transnational crime studies. - Trends in Organized Crime

Zhang offers some very stark conclusions and recommendations . . . [An] important and timely book. --James O. Finckernauer, American Journal of Sociology

Author Information

Sheldon X. Zhang is Professor and Chair of Sociology at San Diego State University. He is currently the principal investigator for two research grants funded by the California Department of Corrections and co-principal investigator on a large grant funded by the National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice.

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