Criminology Ch 9

What is one fundamental assumption that all conflict theories share?

societies are more appropriately characterized by conflict rather than consensus

What was a major social aspect from this theory?

that the government itself might be flawed

what are the two general forms of conflict theory?

pluralist and criminal-radical

what is the central concept of pluralist conflict theories?

power and its use

pluralist conflict theories

assume conflict emerges between groups attempting to exercise control over certain situations or events

George Vold

groups come into conflict with one another as interests and purposes they serve tend to overlap, encroach on one another, and become competitive

Austin Turk

the less sophisticated the subjects are, the more likely their interaction with authorities will be characterized by conflict
ex) juveniles vs adults interaction with cops

2 major ways in which control can be exerted over a society (Turk)

physical force and control over legal images

Richard Quinney

Marxist criminologist; viewed crime as a product of reaction- most important reactions come from authorities

philosophical idealism

Richard Quinney; reality is merely what we perceive it to be

Hubert Blalock

power-threat theory

power-threat theory

challenges to white dominance would be met with political control and/or violence

how does "power-threat" arise?

when a minority group becomes an increasing percentage of a population

how does the group in power respond to "power-threat"?

1. restricting minority groups political rights
2. increasing symbolic forms of segregation
3. creating a threat-oriented ideological system

what increases as "power-threat" increases?

discrimination

Darnell Hawkins

perception of threat- removed the requirement that a group is actually increasing in percentage

William Chambliss

radical conflict theorist; focused on the importance of labor, resources, and control for the existing social order

Marx

conflict in society is due to a scarcity of resources and a historical inequality in the distribution of those resources (i.e. power)

what were the two economical classes of society in the Industrial Age?

proletariat (working class) and bourgeoisie (non-working owners of wealth)

what are the 3 aspects of crime that Marxists criminologists believe to be true?

1. law itself if a tool of the ruling class
2. all crime is the product of a class struggle producing individualism and competition
3. view relationships to the mode of production as an explanation of crime

what are five major concepts of radical and Marxist forms of criminological theory?

social class and stratification, political economy, family disorganization, economic conditions, and surplus value

the square of crime

the victim, the offender, the state, and the community

Left Realists major goal

to emphasize social justice as a way of achieving a fair and orderly society

Anarchist criminology

radical theory; opposed to all forms of hierarchy; authorities are a form of domination; existing social structure and authority are too harmful to the quality of human life

Classification of the conflict theory

Macrotheory; Classical school

Reimer and Leighton: does criminal law create crime?

NO- "carnival mirror

the carnival mirror

the image of crime is created...the American criminal justice system is a mirror that shows a distorted image of the dangers that threaten us

What are 4 new theoretical trends of conflict theory?

realist criminology, peacemaking criminology, radical criminology, postmodernist criminology