Social Surveillance in Grassroots Society: The Chinese Case of the Zhian Zhiyuanzhe.

This abstract presents an analysis of the informal institution of social control in China named zhian zhiyuanzhe. It draws on some provisory findings from an ongoing research for the obtainment of the PhD. is Sociology. This mechanism refers to an informal social institution in which people engage in volunteering local surveillance in places ranging from public spaces, neighborhoods and commercial areas. Their engagement in local communitarian affairs make up to a particular characteristic that deserved to be known.