CHAPTER 10
The Meaning of Crime: Social Conflict Perspective
Learning Outcomes
∞Recognize the ways in which power conflict between social groups contributes to crime and criminal activity.
∞Understand the distinctions between a number of social conflict theories.
∞Identify those policy initiatives that reflect the social conflict approach.
∞Assess the shortcomings of the social conflict perspective.
Marx’s Contributions
-Not a sociologist, and didn’t write much about crime
-Still most widely cited political philosopher in social sciences as recently as the 80s
-Wrote Das capital and the communist Manifesto
-Influential in worker’s movements and ideas eg. Socialism and communism
Dialectcal/Historical Materialism
-Slave owners
-Landlords
-Capitalists
-Slaves
-Serfs
-Workers
1)Dialectical pairs-polar opposites
2)Depends upon each other for their existence
3)Contradictory (opposing) interests
4)Class struggle leads to change in socio-economic forms
Basic position of Marxist thought
-Capitalism is an exploitative and alienating social order in which inequality is institutionalized by an elite ruling class
-State serves the interests of the ruling class
-The laws are a mystifying force, masking the exploitative nature of capitalism
The historical Masterialism pyramid
Ideology
Social Superstructure
Relations of Production
Forces of Production
Mode of Production
Law as a mystifying Force
Appearance
-Equitable
-Due process
-Protects society
-Justice for all
Essence
-Protects/maintains class relations
-Preserves wealth
-Justice for the rich, jail for the poor
Who Marx Influenced
-Simmel
-Bonger
-Vold
-Turk
-Chambliss
-Quinn
Types of Social Conflict Theory
-Radical Crim
-Critcal Crim
-Feminist Crim
-Peacemaking Crim Resorative Justice
-Left-Realist Crim
A) The Social Conflict Perspective.
A. Social conflict theories focus on the