The culture of China Mafia (triad) - Essay Example

The Culture of China Mafia Introduction This paper proposes to analyze the culture of China mafia by going through past actions, profile of members, as well as how they succeed in their operations and an overlook of this matter nowadays. The measures for combating triad societies remain an important aspect for all countries, underlying once again the necessity of discussing this topic on the example of China.Overview of Chinese TriadsThe Chinese triads are infiltrated in separate clans, or lodges, by matters of kinship and ancestral ties (Schloenhardt 352).

The membership in such a clan is related to the village of birth of the founder members. Although clans have the same hierarchical triad structure, each one of them operates separately from the others, and each one can undertake a business, without asking the consent from the other (Booth 78).An important rule of these triads that can be also related to other organized crime organizations around the world is that women are prohibited to infiltrate in such societies. Moreover, their culture is based mainly on loyalty, because all members develop family ties and should pass an initiation process.

In what concerns the profile of members of such societies, some of them are very educated (e.g. lawyers and accountants), who are using their professional status for illegal businesses (Lintner 88). These professionals are not under the possibility of being arrested because the police are focusing on the street criminals, and not on the legitimate lawyers and accountants (Chow 478).When assessing the culture of triad societies is important to overlook the main domains in which they operate. Chinese clans operate mainly in the area of heroin trafficking, but also on counterfeiting goods and human trafficking.

The cities with the highest presence of triads are Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.The functioning of Chinese triads has also been based on a strong connection or association with the government, mainly because of the communist regime of this country. An example of this kind of association happened in 1992 when Tao Siju (which was minister of public security) encouraged the patriotic work of clans, and set up the framework to continue their businesses, considered in the interest of the state (Brodhurst and Wa 12).

Nowadays, it is also necessary to discuss the activity of these triads and to see if law enforcements and other measure had an impact on the culture of these triads and the way they operate. It has been seen an improvement in combating triads activity in Southern China due to a rapid economic development in this area and of the efforts of law enforcers. However, the decline in the profitability of illicit services and goods in this area determined the triads to move in the North of China (Brodhurst and Wa 31).

ConclusionThis paper addressed the presentation of the culture of Chinese triads. Such criminal organizations can be described as clans that put a high value on loyalty and brotherhood, characteristics which probably ensured their existence even in these days.An important matter that needs to be reminded is that success of these triads is mainly related to the association between these societies and Chinese government. Maybe, if the political institutions and law enforcers would have kept their objectivity and perform their duty, such criminal organizations would not exist today.

Although, some improvements have been made in this matter, there is still room for more.ReferencesBooth, B. The Dragon Syndicates: The Global Phenomenon of the Triads. New York: Carroll &Graf, 1999. Print.Brodhurst, R. and Wa, L. “The Transformation of Triad ‘Dark Societies’ in Hong Kong: The Impact of Law Enforcement, Socio-Economic and Political Change.” Security Challenges 5.4 (2009): 1-38. Print.Chow, D. “Organised Crime, Local Protectionism, and the trade in counterfeit goods in China.

” China Economic Review 14 (2003): 473-484. Print.Lintner, B. “Chinese Organized Crime.” Global Crime 6.1 (2004): 84-96. Print.Schloenhardt, A. “Trafficking in Migrants: Illegal Migration and Organized Crime in Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region.” International Journal of the Sociology of Law 29 (2001): 331-378. Print.