Chapter 8 - Social Conflict Theory Flashcards

1
Q

Overview

Critical Criminology

A
  • Conflict is a fundamental aspect of society
  • Points the finger at the system rather than the offender

Example: getting a poor mark and blaming the curriculum for being hard

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2
Q

Social Stratification

A
  • Crimes results from the confict we are not all equal with are socially stratified
  • Inequality between social classes
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3
Q

Basic Assumptions

A
  1. Society is divided by conflict
  2. Groups > Political and Economic Power
  3. Power and Law-Making
  4. Crime is an outcome of conflict between those who have and those who have not
  5. The criminal justice system protects the interests of the dominant class
  6. Capitalism produces greedy and predatory behaviour
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4
Q

Conflict Theory of Crime

The Conflict Theory of Crime

A
  • criminal law is made by a small segment of society with social power to serve their own interests and impose their values
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5
Q

The concept of power

A
  • the ability of persons and groups to control the behaviour of others, shape public opinion, and define deviance
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6
Q

Thorsten Selling

A
  • modern society is composed of diverse cultural groups, each possessing their own distinct CONDUCT, that goern appropriate conduct, inevitably leading to CULTURAL CONFLICT
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7
Q

Conduct Norms

A
  • specification of rules or norms of appropriate behaviour generally agreed upon by members of social group to whom the behavioural norms apply

Example: direct eye contact while shaking hands with an authority figure can be seen as disrepectful in some cultures

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8
Q

Cultural Conflict

A
  • Divergent Conduct Norms
  • Criminal law generally reflects the values and conduct norms of dominant cultural group
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9
Q

Group Conflict Theory

George Vold

A
  • criminal behaviour results from a conflict between the interests of divergent groups
  • Politics and the Law-Making Process

Example: specific members of the Supreme Court were chosen who shares the same views to get Roe v. Wade being overturned in the states

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10
Q

Group Conflict Theory

Criminalization

A
  • when minority groups come into contact with law enforcement agents who enforcement the law according to the wishes of those in power
  • Some groups have more access to law making powers than others
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11
Q

Radical Criminology

Radical Criminology (Marxist Criminology)

A
  • crime is a product of the capitalist system
  • Economic conditions under capitalism
  • Class Structure
    System of economic production
    Proletariat - the worker
    Bourgeoisie - the owners
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12
Q

Instrumental Marxism

A
  • the state and its legal and political institutions directly serve the interests of the capitalist class
  • Capitalists use the state to dominate society
  • Richard Quinney - argued that the state was an interest of the dominate Economic Class and Criminal Law (believed politicians were influenced by the economic class)

Example: Direct Influence (Bribing someone)

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13
Q

Structural Marxism

A
  • the institutions of the state must ensure the ongoing viability of capitalism
  • Law is NOT an instrument of the capitalist class
  • Law as an ideological means of domination
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14
Q

State, Dominant Economic Class, and Criminal Law:

A
  • an instrument of the dominant economic class to maintain existing social and economic order
  • Governing of consciousness of the popularity
  • Contradictions of Capitalism
  • Labours of many produce the profits of a few
  • Surplus Value

Example: Bath & Body Works Sales / A New TV Episode of a series

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15
Q

Crimes of the Working Class

A
  • Crimes of Accoomadation
  • Predatory crimes committed by those ‘brutalized’ by capitalism that reproduce the capitalist system

Example: Robbery

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16
Q

Crimes of the Ruling Class

A
  • Crimes of Domination
  • Crimes committed by the dominant economic class to protect their interests

Example: Price-Fixing

17
Q

Relative Autonomy

A
  • the state has a certain amount of independence from capitalist class to enact laws not in the immediate interests of the capitalist class

Example: Anti-Combines Legislation

18
Q

Other Forms of Critical Criminology

Foucault and Criminology

Michel foucault

A
  • Michel Foucault suggested that we have embedded power in areas outside of the government. We have been socialized to be easier to govern and control
19
Q

Foucault and Criminology

Governmentality

A
  • Art of government
  • An idea of “government that is not limited to state politics but includes a wide range of control techniques”
20
Q

Foucault and Criminology

Power

A
  • power extends beyond states as it is not a quantity to hold or possess but rather is rational, meaning that it is only evident in its exercise
21
Q

Foucault and Criminology

Micro powers

A
  • are small, governance that have significant effect on our behaviour

Example: Speed Limits

22
Q

Foucault and Discipline

A
  • Power operates through discipline
  • A meticulous manner or method training intended to ensure subjection and obedience
23
Q

Foucault and Criminology

Surveillance

A
  • the direct or indirect observation of conduct to encourage a desired outcome

Example: Conformity

24
Q

The Panopticon

A
  • “… the major effect of the Panopticon: to induce in the inmate a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functions of power”
25
Q

Actuaralism and Risk Society

A
  • The concept of risk: the calculated probability of an eventuality
  • Actuarial: the statistical calculation of risk across time and groups
  • A Risk Society: a societal form characterized by the (a) production of and increased awareness of human made ‘risks’ and (b) organization around the management of risks

Example of a risk society: overprotecting our children

26
Q

Understanding of Social Problems

A
  • Crime seen as inevitable reality
  • Social problem to be managed, not solved

Example: Situational Crime Prevention

27
Q

Role of Criminal Justice Professionals

A

Increased focus on collection and aggregation of risk data