Conflict and radical theories Flashcards
what is the consensus model of crime?
members of a society consider certain acts so threatening to community survival that they designate these acts as crime
what is the purpose of laws according to the consensus model of crime?
mechanisms to settle disputes that arise when individuals stray too far from what the community considers acceptable
what do the laws reflect according to the conflict model?
the interests of specific groups, specifically those that posses the power to keep the powerless at a disadvantage
what is draped mania? how does this support the conflict model?
- mental illness discovered in 1851
- symptom = tendency for slaves to run away from their owners
people make up shit to protect their power
Describe the history of drug legislation in Canada and how this supports the conflict model
- prior to 1908: no drug legislation
- the opium act (1908) came about because white people in Canada were feeling threatened by Chinese immigrants (threatened their job)
- vancouver: opium dens used by chinese immigrants; solution = make them illegal
what do conflict theorists ask when it comes to crime/
if people agree on the value system, as suggested by consensus theorists, why are so many people involved in rebellion, why are there so many crimes, so many punitive threats, and people in prison?
Who is Vold and what did he argue?
- first theorist to relate conflict theory to criminology
- argued that individuals band together in groups because they are social animals with needs that are best served through collective action
What did Dahrendorf argue?
conflict can be destructive or constructive
What did Turk argue?
- we learn to interact according to our roles
- conflict arises when people refuse to go along and challenge authorities
Describe the Saints & Rouhgnecks metaphor
saints:
- upper class boys
- work hard at school
- apologize/respectful
roughnecks:
- blue collar, lower class boys
- troubles with authority
metaphor:
- both groups of boys engaged in similar types of behaviour: drink, skip school, get into trouble, etc.
- roughnecks are the ones who get caught and labelled however
- saints have more capital to move their activites elsewhere
How is justice neated out in canada according to conflict theory?
- if you’re a criminal and you have money –> can afford better legal representation –> know the ins and outs of the CJS better –> avoid being labelled
- privilege impacts how justice is carried out
- we say that equal before the law, but we know that isn’t true: e.g. paying a fine – rich person –> not an issue; homeless person –> can’t pay –> jail
- Indigenous people are overrepresented at every level of the CJS
does conflict theory attempt to explain crime?
no, it identifies social conflict as a basic fact of life and a source of discriminatory treatment by the CJS of groups and classes that lack the power and status of those who make and enforce the law
Who are the two main radical theorists? what is their stance?
Engles - the association between crime and poverty is a political problem
Marx - all aspects of life, including laws, are determined by economic organization; people kept in a state of poverty will rebel by committing crimes
What did Marx believe was the only way to bring about social change?
revolution
what is the “lumpenproletariat” and why did Marx beef with them?
what:
- social scum
- beggars, criminals, etc.
- below the proletariat
source of beef:
- helped the bourgeoisie prepare for the revolution by providing practice for the police, military, etc (e.g. how they punish)
How did radical criminology make its debut?
- made its debut in 1968 at the National Deviancy Conference
- Walton and Young were concerned with the way the system controlled people, not with traditional sociological/psychological explanations of crime
- new criminology called for based on Marxist principles
What was Quinney’s (a radical criminologists) stance? why did he snub other criminologists?
stance:
- the purpose of the CJS is to secure a capitalist order
- only when capitalism is abolished will crime disappear
snubbing:
- snubbed those who focused too much on the lower-class
- believed they reinforced the status quo by pushing social control towards the lower class
What are some critiques of maxist conflict theory? what was a benefit of this theory?
critiques:
- exclusive focus on class interest, while ignoring the fact that society is made up of many interest groups
- oversimplification of causation by the focus on capitalism
benefit:
- brought attention to how the social order contributes to what we see today
What is left realism? How does it view crime? What are its policies?
what = critical perspective that sees crime as an inevitable outcome of social and political deprivation
crime:
- crime tends to be intra-class (opposes the bourgeoisie-proletariat)
- there is a universal opposition to cirme
policies: help reduce crime in the short term
- police and CJS could be improved
- include working class in crime reduction policies
- restorative justice
what is peacemaking criminology? what does it promote?
what:
- emphasis on mediation and conflict resolution policies rather than punishment and prison
- promotes humanistic, non-violent, and peaceful solution to crime
promotes restoring victims through: property loss, sense of security, dignity, sense of empowerment, deliberative democracy, harmony based on a feeling that justice has been done, and social support
What is critical criminology?
- critiques the way that the system currently works and calls for improvements
- need to move beyond the confines of traditional conceptions of crime and justice
what are some problems and resistance of critical criminology?
- institutions aren’t a fan: institutional hostility –> they don’t wanna be shut down –> lose jobs, fear, etc.
- getting funded and published is tough
- “hug-a-thug” mentality
- policy implications are a bit unrealistic
