Critical Criminology: Power, Peace, and Crime - PowerPoint Presentation

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Critical Criminology: Power, Peace, and CrimeSlide2

Critical Criminology

Came into prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s

These criminologists lived through the social turmoil of the 1960sVietnam, Kent State, Attica, Watergate, etc.Realized inequality was deeply entrenched and those in power wished to reinforce, and not change, the status quoArgued traditional theories are intellectually sterile and dangerousIgnored and left unchallenged the powerful interests that benefited from this inequality

Also called conflict, radical, and Marxian criminologySlide3

Central Themes of Critical Criminology

Concepts of inequality and power are integral to understanding crime

Building off the work of Karl Marx, critical criminology notes that capitalism enriches some and impoverishes manyProduces a wide economic gapThe state operates to legitimatize and protect social arrangements that benefit those profiting from capitalism Slide4

Central Themes of Critical Criminology

Crime is “political”

What is and is not outlawed reflects the power structure in societyInjurious acts of the poor are defined as crime while injurious acts of the wealthy and powerful are notCritical criminologists argue crime should be defined as a violation of human rightsSlide5

Central Themes of Critical Criminology

See the criminal justice system as serving the interests of the capitalist class

Set up to process poor and minority offendersIgnores rich and corporate offendersCriminal justice officials break the law as wellPolice brutality, receiving pay-offs, etc.Capitalist class uses power to commit crimes against its own dissident citizensSlide6

Central Themes of Critical Criminology

See capitalism as the root cause of criminal behavior

Under capitalism, the human needs of the poor are ignoredThe poor face demoralizing living conditions that foster crime by stunting healthy developmentCreates fertile environment for crimes by corporations Pressure for profits, lax state regulation, infrequent application of criminal penalties

Can lead to huge economic losses and violence (e.g., exposing people to toxins, defective products, etc.)Slide7

Central Themes of Critical Criminology

The solution to crime is the creation of a more equitable society

Support humane policies aimed at preventing harm Engage in political activity advocating a fairer distribution of wealth and powerFor many, the goal of this reform effort is a socialist economy combined with a democratic political system sensitive to the needs of all citizensSlide8

Capitalism and Crime

Marx and capitalism

Bourgeoisie Those who own the means of productionProletariat Workers who did not own the means of production and have to sell their labor for wages Capitalism results in the demoralization of the working class This condition is only alleviated when workers bond together, revolt, and create a socialist classSlide9

Bonger: Criminality and Economic Conditions

Willem Bonger was the first to apply Marxist thought to crime

Central thesis: The capitalist mode of production breeds crimeKey proximate cause of criminality is the mental state of egoismEgoism is rooted in economic relationsRuthless competition and the exploitation of others in the pursuit of profitSociety based upon exchange isolates individuals by weakening the bond that unites themThe larger social good is ignored; people only think of their own interests even to the detriment of others

The social sentiment of altruism fosters prosocial behavior, but is stifled in a capitalist society Slide10

Bonger: Criminality and Economic Conditions

In a capitalist society, the workingman sells his labor only in order to not die of hunger

The capitalists take advantage of this and exploit the workersThe capitalists (bourgeoisie) do not feel morally tied to others and view people as “things” meant to serve themCapitalists also are opposed to other capitalists in competition with themWant to injure their competitors“Bourgeoisie environment”—honesty is only valued as long as it does not interfere with one’s advantageCan commit crime undetected and have little to fear from the law Slide11

Bonger: Criminality and Economic Conditions

The proletariat

Are dependent on the bourgeoisie and live in a subordinate position while feeling poor and deprived Sell labor to survive, often at a very early ageThis leads to the young thinking only of their own interestsThey come into contact with people who are bad influencesThey become independent when at an age where they need guidance The above factors can lead to increases in crimeSlide12

Bonger: Criminality and Economic Conditions

The proletariat

Often live in very poor housing conditions Has an impact on their criminality Have to spend much time on the streets and come into contact with antisocial othersExposed to constant turmoil and conflictUnemployment is a constant threat so often compete with one another to maintain work

Insecurity in working position is very demoralizingOften spend wages as soon as they receive themSlide13

Bonger: Criminality and Economic Conditions

The lower proletariat

Do not succeed in selling their laborVery dire povertyChronic povertyStruggles to surviveProletariat class has self-respect because they know they are needed, while the lower proletariat sees self as a detriment to societySlide14

Bonger: Criminality and Economic Conditions

Concludes that economic conditions play an important role in crime

Capitalism weakens social feelings leading to egoism One group (bourgeoisie) can exploit the other (proletariat) Capitalism can be blamed for sexual, violent, vengeful, economic, and political crimeTo reduce crime, need to replace capitalism with socialism where the means of production are commonly heldSlide15

Richard Quinney

Richard Quinney postulates in order for a capitalist society to operate, the capitalist class must exploit the labor of the working class

The working class as an exploited class exists as long as labor is required in the productive processClass conflict typifies the development of capitalism Slide16

Richard Quinney

Argues the contradictions of capitalism heighten the class struggle and thus increase:

The need to dominate and repress by the capitalist classThe need to accommodate and resist by the classes exploited by capitalismThe capitalists commit economic crimes, deny human rights, and use the state to protect their interests and repress the poorSlide17

Richard Quinney

When the working class begins to recognize that the state is repressive, crime becomes politically conscious

At an extreme state, this can lead to a revoltActions against the state with an attempt to overthrow itSlide18

Richard Quinney

To prevent and stop criminal behavior, the only solution is socialism

All oppressed people need to come together and form a mass socialist movementCrime is a product of the material and spiritual contradictions of capitalism The socialist struggle requires religious consciousness and class consciousness The transition is both political and religiousSlide19

Pathways to Crime

Although Bonger and Quinney’s work sensitized scholars to the processes involved in producing crime, they did not detail the specific factors under capitalism that foster criminal conduct

Elliott Currie and Mark Colvin have attempted to illuminate these mechanisms Slide20

Currie: “Crime in a Market Society”

Capitalism is the root cause of crime, especially the high rate of violent crime in the U.S.

Capitalism comes in multiple forms“Compassionate capitalism”—stresses social solidarity, equity, and community valuesBottom-up approachSeen in Scandinavia“Keiretsu capitalism”—paternalistic

Top-down approachSeen in Japan“Contingent” or harsh brand capitalism—seen in the U.S.

Leads to socially isolated and economically impoverished minority communities that are highly conducive to crimeSlide21

Currie: “Crime in a Market Society”

Currie referred to a “market society”

The pursuit of personal economic gain becomes increasingly the dominant organizing principle of social lifeMarket principles suffuse the whole social fabric (not confined only to the economy)Argues market societies are Darwinian societiesOffer few “cushions” against the labor market and minimal public provisions of social supportSees the market economy as an amoral force that robs people of their jobs, fails to care for at-risk kids and families, and acquits the government from doing much about the human costs of inequality Slide22

Currie: “Crime in a Market Society”

This market society explains recent upsurges of violence in Russia and China and the long-term high violent crime rates in the U.S.

Identifies seven pathways through which the market economy creates high rates of serious crime in the U.S.Slide23

Currie: “Crime in a Market Society”

Pathways to crime

Market society breeds violent crime by destroying livelihoodsLong-term absence of opportunities for stable and rewarding work breeds alienation, undercuts having a stake in society, and exerts pressure to participate in crimeSteady work bonds individuals and allows for desistence Long-term unemployment disrupts family formation and diminishes the capacity for adults to be role models and agents of socializationOverwork in poorly paid jobs reduces the capacity of parents to provide a nurturing environment

Long-term unemployment breeds illicit enterprisesMarket societies seek to cheapen labor (lower wages) and/or eliminate it altogether

Spends very little on job training servicesSlide24

Currie: “Crime in a Market Society”

Pathways to crime

The market society has an inherent tendency toward extremes of inequality and material deprivationDue to the elimination of good work and the resistance of market societies against governmental intervention to offset the inadequacy of labor marketsThe U.S. has an extremely wide spread of inequality and high child poverty ratesEvidence for an association between income inequality/poverty and homicide, aggravated assault, and child abusePoverty inhibits intellectual and social development among children and predisposes them toward school failure and future povertySlide25

Currie: “Crime in a Market Society”

Pathways to crime

The market society weakens other kinds of public supportIndividuals are forced to rely on individual efforts to secure resourcesParents have to take multiple low paying jobs, thus are not there to nurture and supervise their childrenThe U.S., unlike other countries, does not provide universal care for 3- to 5-year-oldsThe U.S. does not have a national health system to supply preventative and prenatal healthcareSlide26

Currie: “Crime in a Market Society”

Pathways to crime

Market societies withdraw public supports while simultaneously eroding informal social supports and networks of careSplits extended families and creates communities characterized by rapid geographical mobility and the consequent “thinning” of networks of close friendships and mutual careSee communities with few public agencies Social impoverishment occurs and youth gangs and drug dealers may become the dominant informal control and support systemsAssociated with child abuseSlide27

Currie: “Crime in a Market Society”

Pathways to crime

Market economies produce crime by promoting a culture that exalts atomized and often brutal individual competition and consumption over the values of community, contribution, and productive workConsumer values are pronouncedInsistent pressure to acquire and consumeMaterialismCraft values have declined

Values of job well done, pleasure in productive workNormal brutality The advancement of some is contingent on the fall of others

Feelings of unconcern and nonresponsibility for others is rampant Unbonded from society—look out only for selfSlide28

Currie: “Crime in a Market Society”

Pathways to crime

Market societies deregulate the technology of violenceVirtual absence of national-level regulations on the sale and possession of firearmsU.S. has a proliferation of firearms, especially handgunsSlide29

Currie: “Crime in a Market Society”

Pathways to crime

Market societies weaken and erode alternative political values and institutionsIf strong political or communal organizations are present to promote collective well-being, the frustrations of the economy will be channeled into constructive social actionIn market societies, these organizations are weak or not presentPeople respond to their frustrations by lashing out and engaging in criminal behaviorSlide30

Currie: “Crime in a Market Society”

To alter these pathways:

Attempt to have full employment at socially meaningful work with good wagesReasonable work hoursExpand employment in public and nonprofit sectors of the economyWorksharing and reduction of work time policiesHave health and mental healthcare, public schooling, childcare, and skills training programsSlide31

Pathways to Crime

Mark Colvin also illuminates another pathway to crime

He and John Pauly argue parents’ class position in the labor market shapes the methods they use to exercise control over their childrenThose employed in the secondary labor market are controlled through coercive sanctions and import this style of control into the home coercively disciplining their childrenCoercive parenting is counterproductive, alienates children, and weakens bonds to parentsOften leads to problem behavior at school where they associate with other alienated youth leading to more problem behaviorSlide32

Colvin: Crime and Coercion

Colvin provides a comprehensive integrated theory of chronic criminality

Differential coercion theoryAttempts to understand how different degrees of coercion can lead to criminal and non-criminal outcomesSlide33

Colvin: Crime and Coercion

Understands coercion is one of the main elements in criminal behavior

Coercion is compelling someone to act in a certain way through either direct force and intimidation or through the pressure of impersonal economic or social forcesCan be threats or actionsAppears in multiple settings (e.g., school, work, family, peers, state)Can range from high coercion to complete noncoercion Physically and/or emotionally painfulThe other main element is the degree of consistency

Can range from highly consistent to highly erraticSlide34

Colvin: Crime and Coercion

These two elements, coercion and consistency, create four types of control

Noncoercive, consistent control (Type 1)Noncoercive, erratic control (Type 2)Coercive, consistent control (Type 3)Coercive, erratic control (Type 4)Slide35

Colvin: Crime and Coercion

In general, the greater the degree of coercion, the greater the criminal involvement

People are most at-risk for crime when they endure coercion that is harsh and erraticSocial-psychological deficits intervene between the coercion and the outcome behaviorCoercion can increase coercive ideation, anger, and humiliation while decreasing self-control, social bonds, and self-efficacyCoercive ideation—the individual views the world as coercive and feels it can only be overcome from acting coercively in returnNotice these are factors discussed in other sociological theories of crimeSlide36

Colvin: Crime and Coercion

Type 1: Consistent, noncoercive

Strong social support is providedProduces: low anger, high self-control, internal locus of control, high self-efficacy, strong social bonds, no models of coercive behavior, no control surpluses or deficitsLeads to:Generally, noncriminal behaviorStrong tendency to engage in prosocial behavior

Least likely to lead to crimeSlide37

Colvin: Crime and Coercion

Type 2: Erratic, noncoercive

Lenient, lax, and permissive with a detached interest of the controllerSubject often ignored and often not exposed to serious interventionFeeble, erratic social supportControl to manipulate the subject’s behaviorProduces: low anger, low self-control, internal locus of control, high self-efficacy, intermediate bonds, no modeling of coercion, control surplusesLeads to: Strong tendency to explore pleasurable deviant activities

Lying and manipulation of authority figures (indifferent to authorities)Strong predisposition for less predatory, minor street crimes

Predisposition for white-collar criminalitySlide38

Colvin: Crime and Coercion

Type 3: Consistent, coercive

Highly punitive relationship with weak supportProduces: high self-directed anger, rigid self-control, external locus of control, low self-efficacy, strong coercive modeling, control deficitsLeads to:Low probability of criminal behaviorLow probability of prosocial behaviorHigh probability of mental illnessPotential for enraged assault/murder

Rewards rarely givenBecome fearful, submissive, and depressed with a sense of resignation to authoritySlide39

Colvin: Crime and Coercion

Type 4: Erratic, coercive

Social support weak to non-existentProduces: high other-directed anger, low self-control, external locus of control, low self-efficacy, weak/negative social bonds, strong coercive modeling, control deficits, humiliation Leads to:Defiant/hostile acts toward authority figuresCoercion/intimidation of othersPredisposition for chronic involvement in predatory street crimes

Subject feels his/her behavior makes little difference in the long run Subjects become very impulsiveSlide40

Colvin: Crime and Coercion

Linking back to the U.S., Colvin argues impersonal and interpersonal coercion is tied to inequality and thus is especially high in the U.S.

Supportive social and criminal justice policies that reduce multiple forms of coercion will lead to a reduction in crimeSlide41

Pathways to Crime

Both Currie and Colvin can be seen as falling in to a brand of critical criminology called “left realism”Favor creating a society that is truly equitable and democratic

Inequality in living conditions and political influence is unjustified Support policies for early intervention, universal health and childcare, public job programs, living wage laws, and progressive tax policiesSlide42

Peacemaking Criminology

Later in his career, Richard

Quinney postulated peacemaking criminologyAttempts to show how individuals and social policies might create conditions in which the sources of crime will not be nourished Suggests individuals are on a spiritual journey involving transcending one’s egocentric self to understand the suffering in ourselves and the worldInner peace and peacemaking actions are intertwined and reinforcingCrime is suffering and the ending of crime is possible only with the end of sufferingAdvancing peace and diminishing suffering requires social justiceSlide43

Peacemaking Criminology

Goal of peacemaking criminology is to seek to end suffering and eliminate crimeWithout peace within us and in our actions, there can be no peace in our results

Peace is the wayPeacemaking criminologists often do not provide empirical evidenceHowever, Fuller and Wozniak (2006) derived a set of 17 propositions to make it testableArgue that when underlying social harms are consistently addressed that individuals who are responsive, mindful, and connected will be less involved in crimeSlide44

Peacemaking Criminology Criminologists should use their knowledge to create social justice

Reject “get tough” responses as fighting suffering with more suffering

Favor restorative justice programsSlide45

Summary

Critical criminology came into prominence in the 1960s

and 1970s at a time when there was much distrust in the governmentEarly theories blamed capitalism for the high crime rates in the U.S. (Bonger; Quinney); however, these theories did not address the actual pathways that capitalism led to crimeBoth Currie and Colvin addressed the pathways in which capitalism and coercion lead to high rates of crimeFinally, Quinney proposed a peacemaking criminology that focuses nonviolent and compassionate interactions of individuals to control crime