Social Hierarchy of the Policemen in the French Concession of Shanghai, 1911–37

Abstract

The policemen in the French Concession of Shanghai were mainly composed of French, Russian, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Through a comparative study of recruiting conditions, training courses, salaries, welfare, and job turnover, I establish that the police were a hierarchical institution based on a differentiated treatment according to race and nationality. The French policemen stood at the top of the pyramid, with the lowest number but the most influence. The Russians were cheap white labor forces and constituted the second highest class of the police. The Vietnamese and Chinese policemen were at the bottom of the pyramid and constituted the majority of the policemen in the Concession.

Keywords

hierarchy / policeman / French Concession / race / colonial police / salaries / police career

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2020 Higher Education Press