Rationalising stability preservation through Mao's not so invisible hand

This paper considers the process of constructing the official discourse of 'weiwen' (stability preservation) in the policing arena in the first decade of the 21st century. It focuses on the pivotal period after 2003 when policing priorities were shifted from 'striking hard' at serious crime to pursuing 'weiwen' to contain burgeoning protests and civil dissent, as a move to maintain stability in th…