New Ghosts, Old Ghosts: Prisons and Labor Reform Camps in China - Prisons and Labor Reform Camps in China

Much has been written about the laogai (sometimes likened to the Soviet gulag) in the People's Republic of China. Depending on the source, the prisons are described as nonexistent, enlightened institutions, or hellish places that subject the inmates to degradation and misery. The system is commonly thought of (by admirers and critics alike) as having a measurable impact on the national economy and providing significant resources to the state. Based on research in classified documents and extensive interviews with former prisoners, judicial personnel, and other insiders, and featuring case studies dealing with the three northwestern provinces, this book examines such assertions on the basis of the facts about this underexamined subject in order to arrive at a detailed, objective, and realistic picture of the situation. In the case of each province under study, the authors discuss the history of the provincial prison system and the impact that each has had at the macro, meso, and micro levels.

List of contents

List of Tables, Charts, and Maps, Terminology and Prison Structure, Foreword by Fan Sidong, Preface, Prologue: Visiting the Xining Laogai Area, 1. Introduction, 2. Gansu, 3. Xinjiang: One Region, Two Systems, 4. Qinghai, 5. Prisons and Human Rights, 6. The Aftermath: What Happens upon Release?, 7. Conclusion, Appendix 1: Author's Commentaries, Appendix 2: Others' Commentaries, Appendix 3: Laogai Regulations, Endnotes, Bibliography, Index

About the author

James D. Seymour, Michael R Anderson

Summary

The laogai, in the People's Republic of China, are sometimes likened to the Soviet gulag, and are thought to have an impact on the national economy. This book presents a picture of the situation, along with case studies, based on interviews with former prisoners, judicial personnel and insiders.

Product details

• Authors: Michael R Anderson, James D Seymour, James D. Seymour, Seymour James D.
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.03.1999
• EAN: 9780765605108
• ISBN: 978-0-7656-0510-8
• No. of pages: 336
• Weight: 453 g
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Law > Public law, administrative procedural law, constitutional procedural law; China, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Freedom, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Human Rights, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Economy, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Penology, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / Asian, Political Economy, Penology and punishment, Penology & punishment, Political oppression & persecution, Political oppression and persecution