Dual Authoritative Mediation: Policing and Community Governance in Urban China
JCC — pp. 1-15 2026-04-24 Original Dual Authoritative Mediation: Policing and Community Governance in Urban China
Gang Tian, Wen-Hsuan Tsai
Abstract
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is employing mechanisms inspired by the ‘Fengqiao experience’ to mediate grassroots conflicts. Our findings show that in urban areas, community support officers from the People’s Police have played a critical role in this task. They liaise with residents’ committees and other relevant units to conduct ‘dual authoritative mediation’. This practice reflects the roles of the police as holders of state authority and paternal figures in the community, and it promotes the deep penetration of state power into grassroots communities. The role of the police in mediating disputes between residents is highly valued by the CCP, and China’s police force has been given more responsibility with respect to politics and law and the maintenance of stability than police in other countries.