Guoliang Zhang (Bond) is a fourth-year Sociology Honours student at UBC who is also completing a minor in law and society. His Honours thesis focuses on China’s newly established National Supervision Commission (NSC), which is the country’s sole anti-corruption agency.
Bond is currently working with Dr. Qiang Fu and Dr. Oral Robinson, and is exploring issues such as: how does the NSC work as the sole anti-corruption force in China’s criminal system? What are the implications of this form of organization for managing anti-corruption? The thesis also offers a comparative analysis of anti-corruption policies and practices in China and the West.
Honours student Guoliang Zhang (Bond)
Honours student Guoliang Zhang (Bond)
What was your project about? What are the main takeaways from your work?
My research mainly focuses on China’s National Supervision Commission (NSC), which was established in 2018 as the country’s sole anti-corruption agency. The NSC integrates the anti-corruption forces of the procuratorate and unifies supervision resources and personnel from different units. This makes it an immensely powerful organization capable of initiating investigations and cases against any party and non-party members accused of bribery or violating party discipline. According to the newly promulgated Supervision Law, all personnel performing public duties, including those working in state-owned enterprises, regardless of their party affiliation, are subject to the NSC’s supervision and investigation (Article 15, Supervision Law). This gives the NSC powers over other judicial authorities. Since its establishment, the NSC has enjoyed a favourable reputation for its efficiency in curbing corruption. However, it has also been criticized for a lack of transparency and for its unchecked power. Furthermore, because of its secrecy, there are few avenues for scholars to study the NSC. Drawing on my prior work experience in China’s penal system and interviews with personal contacts, my thesis undertakes an explorative look at the NSC, its structure and investigative procedures. I have just begun analyzing my findings, but this is already highly challenging. It could potentially open up a “black box” of stories about misused power; information that is not readily accessible to the public or academics. Overall, my research will help the public understand how the NSC operates in China’s criminal justice system and sheds light on Chinese politics and society. It will also have implications for understanding the nexus between politics, organizational change and public perceptions.
How did you get interested in this topic?
Ever since I was in high school, I dreamed of becoming a police officer or a prosecutor. When I took SOCI 490 with my current supervisor Dr. Qiang’s class, I learned about China’s criminal justice system. After class, I talked with Dr. Qiang, and we discussed the NSC and the procuratorate. This piqued my interest to further understand anti-corruption in China. Although my main research interest is in violent crime, I became deeply interested and invested in understanding corruption. In China, corruption is complex to understand as one needs a good grasp of history, culture, politics and justice. I hope that my research leads to a comparative understanding of how anti-corruption initiatives are implemented and enacted in China and the West.
What was the most difficult part of this learning journey? What was most satisfying?
Well, I encountered lots of difficulties in this project because of the political sensitivity of the topic. One of the most challenging aspects is finding willing interviewees, which created two barriers. First, the staff from the NSC are not allowed to participate in “external” research because of political censorship and the agency’s secrecy. This meant that their participation in the research was potentially risky and I was constantly worried about them. The second hindrance is the lack of existing studies and information about the NSC. Hence, I had no idea how to situate my findings. However, I assume that these difficulties are pretty normal for explorative research. Thanks to these difficulties, I believe my research will add helpful knowledge about the NSC and China’s criminal justice system. I am also excited to be a pioneer in this kind of research.
What skills did you develop or strengthen as a result of this project?
My critical thinking ability and independent research skills have significantly improved with the assistance of Dr. Qiang and Dr. Robinson. They trained me to conduct thorough research by critically analyzing phenomena and tailoring my entire research contexts to them. Previously, I only learned about research methods in class, but I never had the opportunity to practice them. The Honours thesis provided the perfect platform to put my in-class knowledge into action. I also believe that this research experience is preparing me well for graduate school.
What was your experience working with Sociology faculty on this project?
Amazing! Working with Dr. Qiang and Dr. Robinson is an experience that I will never forget in my life. Collaborating with them and undertaking research under their supervision is a great honour. They are extremely nice, kind, caring and knowledgeable. Whenever I encountered difficulties, they were always reliable in helping me. Both Dr. Qiang and Dr. Robinson are passionate about sociology and have been willing to meet regularly with me. Their conversations always provide new insights and ideas, even if it is a casual conversation. Overall, working with faculty is one of the best things about doing a Honours research project.
