Chapter Eight Conflict Theory Criminology 9th edition Larry J. Siegel © 2003 Wadsworth Publishing Co.

Schools of Thought CONFLICT Criminologists who view crime as a function of social conflict and economic rivalry are aligned with a number of schools of thought, referred to as: CONFLICT CRITICAL MARXIST RADICAL

The Branches of Social Conflict Theory

The goal of social conflict theorists is to explain crime within economic and social contexts and to express the connections among social class, crime and social control. Crime is an outcome of class struggle. Issues of concern to them include: The role government plays in creating a criminogenic environment. The relationship of personal or group power in controlling and shaping the criminal law. The role of bias in the operations of the justice system. The relationship between a capitalist free-enterprise economy and crime rates.

Marxist View of Class PROFITS WAGES Workers Owners of Production (Capitalist Bourgeoisie) Workers (Proletariat) PROFITS WAGES The Non-Productive (Lumpen Proletariat)

Willem Bonger (1876-1940) It is not the absolute amount of wealth that affects crime but its distribution. If wealth is unequally distributed and people believe wealth means superiority, then the inferior will be crime-prone. The economic system will intensify personal disadvantages and will increase propensity to commit crime. Crime will disappear if society progresses from competitive capitalism, to monopoly capitalism.

Dahrendorf’s Unified Conflict Theory of Human Behavior. Every society is at every point subject to processes of change; social change is everywhere. Every society displays at every point dissent and conflict; social conflict is everywhere. Every element in a society renders a contribution to its disintegration and change. Every society is based on the coercion of some of its members by others.

The Social Reality of Crime The social reality of crime is constructed by the formulation and application of criminal definitions, the development of behavior patterns to criminal definitions, and the construction of criminal conceptions. Richard Quinney, 1970

Questions According to Quinney, what factors are criminal definitions based on? What are the “propositions” of the Social Reality of Crime?

Conflict Theory STRENGTHS Accounts for class differentials in the crime rate. Shows how class conflict influences behavior. MAJOR PREMISE Crime is a function of class conflict. The definition of the law is controlled by people who hold social and political power.

Would all racial groups be Questions Could conflict theory explain the relationship of race/ethnicity and crime as well as class? If so, in what way? Would all racial groups be affected the same?

Conflict Theory versus Consensus Theory Conflict Theory: Criminal law is a weapon utilized by the powerful to maintain dominance. Crime is a means to fight back against those in power. Consensus Theory: Criminal law reflects the values of the majority which equal a just society. Crime, therefore, violates the rights of others.

Marxist Theory MAJOR PREMISE The capitalist means of production creates class conflict. Crime is a rebellion of the lower class. The criminal justice system is an agent of class warfare. STRENGTHS Accounts for the associations between economic structure and crime rates.

Questions What is Instrumental Marxism? What is Integrative-Constitutive Theory? What is Structural Marxism?

Instrumental Marxist Theory MAJOR PREMISE Criminals are revolutionaries. The real crime is sexism, racism, and profiteering. STRENGTHS Broadens the definition of crime and demystifies or explains the historical development of law.

Structural Marxist Theory The law is designed to sustain the capitalist economic system. MAJOR PREMISE Explains the existence of white-collar crime and business control laws. STRENGTHS

Critiques of Marxist Criminology Most theft is for luxury, not survival. Marxists unfairly neglect the efforts of the capitalist system to regulate itself. Marxists refuse to address the problems and conflicts that exist in socialist countries. Marxists fail to explain why some highly capitalist countries, such a Japan, have extremely low crime rates. Marists are too quick to blame for every human vice without adequate explanation or regard for other social and environmental factors.

industrialized societies? What is radical feminism? Questions How do you think Marx would respond today about the prosperity enjoyed by the working class in industrialized societies? What is radical feminism?

Power Control Theory A Radical Feminist Theory (John Hagan) Crime and delinquency rates are a function of: Class Position (Power) Family Function (Control) Parents’ work experiences and class position influence the criminality of their children. In paternalistic families, male siblings exhibit a higher degree of delinquent behavior than their sisters. In egalitarian families, daughters law-violating behaviors mirror their brothers’.

Social Conflict Theories: Deconstructionism (Postmodernists) MAJOR PREMISE Language controls the meaning and use of the law. STRENGTHS Provides a critical analysis of meaning.

What is restorative justice? Questions What is restorative justice? and, How does restorative justice address social conflict theory and public policy?

Social Conflict Theories: Peacemaking – Restorative Justice MAJOR PREMISE Peace and humanism can reduce crime; conflict resolution strategies can work. STRENGTHS Offers a new approach to crime control through mediation.

What are victim concerns about restorative justice? Question What are victim concerns about restorative justice? Give examples.