Neighborhood Organizations, Organizational Participation, and Crime in Vietnam: An Application of the Social Disorganization Theory

Abstract

Social ties and neighborhood organizations play a crucial role in crime prevention in both developed and developing countries. However, the results are mixed, especially in rural areas, and the effects of various community structural factors can differ from one country to another. This paper examines how community structure and participation in different types of neighborhood organizations influence crime rates at the community level in Vietnam, a developing post-communist country. Using balanced panel data derived from the Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index survey conducted from 2017 to 2020, the empirical results support the hypotheses of Social Disorganization Theory regarding the connection between community structure, organizational participation, and overall crime rates in this context. The study also found that urbanization moderates this relationship, though its impact on each dimension of social disorganization and the crime rate varies. The paper contributes to the existing theory by emphasizing the significance of neighborhood organizations – especially voluntary ones – and the quality of community participation in crime prevention. Additionally, the findings offer managerial implications applicable in countries with similar contexts.