variation of conflict theories

8/8/2019 Variation of Conflict Theories

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CONFLICT THEORIESCONFLICT THEORIES

Focus their explanations more on deviance (act)Focus their explanations more on deviance (act)than on deviant behavior (label)than on deviant behavior (label)

Address the origins of rules or norms ratherAddress the origins of rules or norms ratherthan the origin of behavior that violatesthan the origin of behavior that violatesestablished standartsestablished standarts

Stresses the pluralistic nature of society and theStresses the pluralistic nature of society and the

differentials distribution of power among groupsdifferentials distribution of power among groups Conceives society as a collection of groups withConceives society as a collection of groups with

competing interests in conflict with one anothercompeting interests in conflict with one another


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CRIMES: Conception of CriminalityCRIMES: Conception of Criminality

2 MAJOR TYPES OF WORKING2 MAJOR TYPES OF WORKING--CLASSCLASS

CRIMECRIME

Crimes of AccomodationCrimes of Accomodation-- included predatoryincluded predatorycrimes such as property crimes, crimes of theftcrimes such as property crimes, crimes of theftand drug stealing. Also included are personaland drug stealing. Also included are personal

crimes, such as murder, rape, and armed robberycrimes, such as murder, rape, and armed robbery

Crimes of ResistanceCrimes of Resistance-- sabotage or othersabotage or other

activities directed against the work placeactivities directed against the work place


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Crimes of DominationCrimes of Domination--

are crimes committed by the CAPITALISTare crimes committed by the CAPITALISTCLASS and the STATE in their attempt toCLASS and the STATE in their attempt tosecure the fate of the capitalist systemsecure the fate of the capitalist system

Crimes of economic dominationCrimes of economic domination--variousvarioustypes of corporate crime such as scandals oftypes of corporate crime such as scandals ofloan officialsloan officials

Crimes of governmentCrimes of government-- include takinginclude takingkickbacks among political officials and crimes ofkickbacks among political officials and crimes ofcontrolcontrol


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The theories designated as 'neoThe theories designated as 'neo--' Marxist were' Marxist were

concerned in particular with culture andconcerned in particular with culture and

ideologyideology, and with the role of capitalist states', and with the role of capitalist states'welfare institutions in retarding rather thanwelfare institutions in retarding rather thanadvancingadvancingsocialismsocialism


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VARIATION ofVARIATION of

CONFLICT THEORIESCONFLICT THEORIES


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Criminal behavior as a power reflection of socialCriminal behavior as a power reflection of social

power differentials. Social control reflects andpower differentials. Social control reflects and

consolidates the rule of the powerfulconsolidates the rule of the powerful Conflict theorists see no social accident. There isConflict theorists see no social accident. There is

nothing surprising in official statistics that shownothing surprising in official statistics that showsubstantially higher crimes rates in the lower classessubstantially higher crimes rates in the lower classes

than in the more privileged, elite segments of society.than in the more privileged, elite segments of society.


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Social Threat (Liska)Social Threat (Liska)

a hypothesis that denies direct relationship thata hypothesis that denies direct relationship thatas a crime increases, so do crime control effortsas a crime increases, so do crime control efforts

The threats may come from behavior defined asThe threats may come from behavior defined asundesirable or from people or groups defined asundesirable or from people or groups defined asinherently dangerous, regardless of theirinherently dangerous, regardless of theirbehavior. Social control efforts are directbehavior. Social control efforts are direct

measures against perceived measures.measures against perceived measures. Confinement of residents in mental hospitalsConfinement of residents in mental hospitals

without clinical diagnoses of mental disorderswithout clinical diagnoses of mental disorders


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LEFT REALISM (LR)LEFT REALISM (LR)

Crime emerges when four componentsCrime emerges when four components

intersects: offender, victims, the state and publicintersects: offender, victims, the state and publicopinionopinion--------the square of crimethe square of crime

Acknowledges the states active role in theAcknowledges the states active role in theprocess of criminalizing certain behaviors. Theprocess of criminalizing certain behaviors. The

state enacts laws that reflect established politicalstate enacts laws that reflect established political

and economic inequalities and interests.and economic inequalities and interests.


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In examining a crime, oneIn examining a crime, one

must consider the following...must consider the following...


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The stateThe state as an agent of formal social control, the state decideas an agent of formal social control, the state decidewhat is criminal and what is not. It is thus vital to considerwhat is criminal and what is not. It is thus vital to considerthem when explaining crime, as all crimes happen in the contextthem when explaining crime, as all crimes happen in the contextof the state. We must also consider social forces that influenceof the state. We must also consider social forces that influence

the police, and a number of LRs have investigated the effects ofthe police, and a number of LRs have investigated the effects ofdifferent styles of policing on crime levels.different styles of policing on crime levels.

OffenderOffender it is also vital to consider why people offend. Whatit is also vital to consider why people offend. Whatmotivates them, and what makes them continue to commitmotivates them, and what makes them continue to commitcrime? LRs argue that more research is needed into thecrime? LRs argue that more research is needed into the

trajectory of crimetrajectory of crime in order to investigate why people drift inin order to investigate why people drift inand out of criminal behaviour.and out of criminal behaviour.


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The publicThe public we must consider the factors that influence publicwe must consider the factors that influence publicattitudes and responses to crime. This has become one of theattitudes and responses to crime. This has become one of themost important areas of study, as fear of stigmatisation frommost important areas of study, as fear of stigmatisation frompeer groups, family and neighbours is one of the most powerfulpeer groups, family and neighbours is one of the most powerful

determinants of behaviour. Cross referencing with the massdeterminants of behaviour. Cross referencing with the massmedia, the newspapers/television have a massive ability to shapemedia, the newspapers/television have a massive ability to shapepublic perceptions of what is criminal, which causes us topublic perceptions of what is criminal, which causes us toapply certain labels to certain acts.apply certain labels to certain acts.

The victimThe victim the victim must also be considered, as ultimately,the victim must also be considered, as ultimately,

they decide whether a crime has taken place. It is important tothey decide whether a crime has taken place. It is important toconsider what makes victims vulnerable in both a macro (e.g.consider what makes victims vulnerable in both a macro (e.g.their position is society) and a micro (e.g. their relationships totheir position is society) and a micro (e.g. their relationships tothe offender) sense.the offender) sense.


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EVALUATING NEOEVALUATING NEO--MARXISTMARXIST

THEORYTHEORY Is a Marxian theory really possible?Is a Marxian theory really possible?

Marx did not develop himself a systematic theory ofMarx did not develop himself a systematic theory ofdeviance. Much of what has been referred to asdeviance. Much of what has been referred to asMarxist criminology has been pieced together byMarxist criminology has been pieced together byfollowers on a general approach and from hisfollowers on a general approach and from his

writingswritings


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THEORYTHEORY OverpoliticizationOverpoliticization

Capitalist Society is criminogenic. How aboutCapitalist Society is criminogenic. How aboutcriminogenic attributes of socialist social system (i.e.criminogenic attributes of socialist social system (i.e.Soviet Union)?Soviet Union)?


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THEORYTHEORY Oversimplification of the connection betweenOversimplification of the connection between

criminal behavior and capitalismcriminal behavior and capitalism

If capitalist is the mother of crime, why do theIf capitalist is the mother of crime, why do thecrime and deliquency problems vary so much fromcrime and deliquency problems vary so much fromone capitalist system to another?one capitalist system to another?


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APPLICATIONAPPLICATION

NeoNeo--Marxist Theories of Corporate CrimeMarxist Theories of Corporate Crime


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Corporate CrimeCorporate Crime

The state is caught between its own interestsThe state is caught between its own interests-- thetheaccumulation of wealthaccumulation of wealth-- and the interests of othersand the interests of others--political legitimacy through the regulation ofpolitical legitimacy through the regulation of

accumulation wealthaccumulation wealth Ex: The state must create opportunities for industry toEx: The state must create opportunities for industry to

accumulate profits and markets. But the state must alsoaccumulate profits and markets. But the state must also

protect laborers, farmers, children, and other sectors from theprotect laborers, farmers, children, and other sectors from the

impact of industrys accumulations. To properly perform itsimpact of industrys accumulations. To properly perform itsfunctions of accumulation and legitimacy, the state mustfunctions of accumulation and legitimacy, the state mustregulate capitalismregulate capitalism


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Ordinary practices of private business come toOrdinary practices of private business come to

be defined as illegal. Labor practices, marketingbe defined as illegal. Labor practices, marketingpractices, pollution practices and fiscal practicespractices, pollution practices and fiscal practices

enter into deliberations on the criminal code andenter into deliberations on the criminal code andbecome proscribe by the law.become proscribe by the law.

The state sets such hard conditions forThe state sets such hard conditions forproducing and selling that the corporation mustproducing and selling that the corporation must

violate them if it is to surviveviolate them if it is to survive

The state acts irrationality by serving corporateThe state acts irrationality by serving corporatespecial interests one at a time.special interests one at a time.

variation of conflict theories

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