14. State Crime And Human Right Abuses Flashcards
Define State Crime
State organised deviance involving the violation of human rights
What are the 4 types State crime is divided into?
- Political Crime eg Corruption
- Crimes of police & Security forces eg Torture
- Economic Crimes eg failing to pay minimum wage
- Social & Cultural crimes eg mistreatment of ethnic minorities
What was the declaration of human rights?
An agreement post WW2 to ensure such horrors can never happen again
What are the 2 ways of explaining state crime?
- Integrated theory
- Crimes of obedience model
Integrated theory
State crimes are a result of: motivation to offend, opportunities to commit crime, failures of control
Crimes of obedience model
State crimes due to conformity rather than law breaking. States have the power to make their citizens conform even when they think the action is bad through 3 approaches: Authorisation, Dehumanisation, Routinisation.
Define Authorisation
States override morality, fear of not obeying overrides the act
Define Dehumanisation
Enemy is portrayed as sub-human so normal rules dont apply eg jews
Define Routinisation
Criminal acts become normalised and accepted
What are the 5 techniques of neutralisation states use?
- Relabel crimes as something more accepable
- Excuse the crime as regrettable but justifiable
- Claim a necessity of greater good
- Excuse on the grounds of national security
- Appeal to higher loyalty such as religious beliefs or revolution
Difficulties of researching State Crimes
-No official stats, victim surveys or other methods to refer to/use
-Governments adopt techniques of neutralisation
-State crimes carried out by powerful people who can cover up information
-Dark figure of state crime is likely much bigger than other crimes
