Globalisation, Green, State Crime Flashcards
The global criminal economy
- HELD suggests that the globalisation of crime has made new opportunities for crimes.
- CASTELLS argues there is a global criminal economy worth £1 trillion per annum.
- there’s a demand and supply side. The supply side provides sex workers, drugs which are demanded by West.
- e.g. trafficking arms, nuclear materials, imigrants, women, children.
Global risk consciousness
- globalisation creates new risk consciousness where risk is seen as global rather than local. E.g. immigrants seeking work increases anxieties among the West.
- media give knowledge about risks which exaggerates risks we face. E.g. immigration-moral panics caused hate crimes
- resulted in UK toughening borders
Globalisation, capitalism, crime
- TAYLOR argues globalisation has led to changes in patterns and extent of crime. Caused greater inequalities.
- created crime on both ends of social spectrum
-International corporations switch to low wage countries manufacturing (unemployment poverty)
-deregulation has meant gov have little control (taxes, jobs, welfare spending reduced) - also led to new patterns of employment which create new opportunities for crime. Working illegally
Patterns of criminal organisation
- Glocal organisation
HOBBS & DUNNINGHAM ague changes with globalisation has caused changes in patterns of crime. Crime works on a Glocal organisation which is locally based but with Global connections.
Global risk society and the environment
- threats to human wellbeing and ecosystem are man made.
- BECK argues increased tech has made new manufactured risks. Involves harm to environment and consequences to humanity. E.g global warming
- PATEL reports example of Mozambique. Global warming was triggered in Russia by a heatwave which caused a ban of exports. Mozambique is dependant on food imports. Led to rioting and gambling on hunger in financial markets.
Criminology
- traditional criminology
Subject matter defined by criminal law. Focus on laws concerning the environment.
SITU & EMMONS define environmental crime as an unauthorised act that violates law. - Green criminology
Focuses on harm rather than law.
WHITE argues subject of criminology is any actions that harms the physical environment, humans or animals. Even if no law was broken.
Views of harm
WHITE
1. Anthropocentric / human centred
Humans have the right to dominate nature for their own ends and puts economic growth before the environment.
- Ecocentric
Humans and environment are interdependent. Environmental harm hurts Humans too.
Primary green crimes
SOUTH
- crimes that are a result of direct destruction of the earth’s resources.
1. Crimes of air pollution
Burning fossil fuels. Carbon emissions increased by 2% per annum.
2. Crimes of deforestation
3. Crimes of species decline and animal abuse
50 species extinct a day
4. Crimes of water pollution
Secondary green crime
SOUTH
- crime that breaks rules aimed at environmental protection
E.g.
1. Hazardous waste and organised crime
High costs of disposing toxic waste safe and legally makes businesses seek illegal ways.
- State violence against oppositional groups
States condemn terrorism but have been prepared to resort to similar methods.
Definition : social harms and zemiology
- Recognises harms done by the state that’s not against the law
- legal acts that cause similar harms as illegal acts.
- HILLYARD argues we should take a wider view of state wrongdoing. Use zemiology - study of harms whether they are against the law or not.
- prevents the state ruling themselves out of court by making laws that allow them to misbehave. Creates a single standard that applies to different states to identify the most harmful one.
Definition: labelling and societal reaction
- labelling theory argues whether an act is criminal depends on whether the social audience defines it as a crime.
- recognises that state crime is socially constructed. What people define as state crime varies.
- prevents sociologists imposing their own definition when the participants don’t agree.
Definitions : domestic law
- CHAMBLISS defines state law as an act defined by law as criminal. Committed by state officials in pursuit of their jobs as representative of the state.
Definitions : human rights
Includes:
- natural rights
Rights people have by existing. Right to life, freedom of speech
- civil rights
Right to vote, education
- Define state crime as a violation to human rights.
- RISSE argues it is a good definition as all states care about is their human rights image as it is now a global social norm.
Explanations : the authoritarian personality
ADORNO
- authoritarian is someone who obeys superiors without question.
- common in Germans during the holocaust.
Crimes of obedience
- state crimes are of conformity. E.g. ina corrupt police unit the officer who accepst bribes is conforming.
- people are willing to obey authority even when they harm others.
- KELMAN & HAMILTON identify 3 features that produce crimes of obedience: authoritarianism, routinisation, dehumanising enemy.
