Social Conflict Theories
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social conflict theories
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-an analytical perspective on social organization that holds that conflict is a fundamental aspect of social life itself and can never be fully solved - there is constant conflict over values and norms -reject the idea the law is there to maintain tranquility
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social conflict theories focus on the roles of:
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-the government in creating a criminogenic environment -personal or group power in controlling and shaping the criminal law -bias in the operations of the justice system (i.e. the crime funnel) -the capitalist economy and crime
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assumptions of social conflict theories
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-society is divided by conflict -society is made of different groups based on politics and economics with different interests -differences in groups (i.e. class) are maintained -powerful groups make laws to protect their interests and criminalize actions of other groups -there is conflict between those who have and those that do not
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branches of social conflict theory
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1. radical criminology + critical criminology 2. left-realist criminology 3. feminist-criminology 4. peacemaking criminology +restorative justice
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radical criminology
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-aka new, marxist, or critical criminology -argues the the cuases of crime are rooted in social conditions that empower the wealthy and the politically well organized but disenfranchise those less fortunate -the only way to reverse the system is revolt and then communism
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left-realist criminology
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-a conflict perspective that insists on a pragmatic assessement of crime and its associated problems -argues that there are real victims of crime -advocates for \"practical policies\" to try to make change -away from the idea of crime as a political ideology and that crime is \"real\" especially for marginalized members of society
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feminist criminology
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-a self-conscious corrective model intended to redirect the thinking of mainstream criminologists to include gender awareness -a response to male-centric criminological research -interest in why women engage in certain types of crime and not in others
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true crimes
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-imperialism -racism -sexism -pollution of the environment -etc
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Karl Marx
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-argues that class struggle is the root of problems -two classes: proletariat and the bourgeoisie (and lumpen proletariat) -doesn't apply capitalism to crime -the solution to capitalism is complete revolution -communism as a liberator
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William Blomler
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-connected Marx's Principles to crime rates -proletariats (/workers) are exploited, dont enjoy life and engage in criminal/risky behaviour in response
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Five things about Marxism (critiques?)
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1. modern work is alienated - disconnection between what you create and how you feel about yourself 2. modern work is insecure - workers are disposable (and feel disposable) 3. workers get poorer, rich get richer - rich shrink wages to increase profits 4. capitalist systems are unstable - proine to crisis, we produce too much 5. capitalism is bad for capitalists - bourgeoisie families form for money not love
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Radical Criminology Today (Criminologists)
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-Chambliss and Seidman - Law, Order, and Power -Chambliss - 2 types of law (real life, and books) -Volt - applying the laws of capitalism -Quinney - Crime as a social construction -two new types of marxism: structural marxism and instrumental marxism
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Quinney's 6 Propositions for understanding crime
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1. definition of crime 2. formulation of criminal defintions 3. applications of criminal definitions 4. development of behaviour patterns in relation to criminal definitions 5. construction of the criminal conception 6. the social reality of crime
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structural marxism
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a perspective that holds that the structural institutions of society influences the behaviour of individuals and groups by virtue of the type of relationship created
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instrumental marxism
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a perspective that holds that those in power intentionally create laws and social institutions that serve their own interests and that keep others from becoming powerful
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critical criminology
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a perspective focused on challenging traditional understandings and on uncovering false beliefs about crime and criminal justice
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praxis
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-combining knowledge and action -rejects the idea of value neutrality in research -people claim they are doing research under the premise of \"value neutrality\" -we have to recognize that we are innately biased in our research
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criticisms of radical criminology
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-lacks well-defined theory on causes of crime -there is infact a fair amount of consensus in society -personal politics is confused with social reality -have to argue for praxis and value neutrality -fails to recognize forms of power other than property ownership -collapse of soviet union and other communist states -there are more than two groups in society!
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criticisms of critical criminology
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-
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feminism
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to combine a female mental perspective with a sensitivity for those social issues that influence primarily women
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liberation thesis
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women are socialized to be less criminal (feminist criminology)
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types of feminism
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1. radical feminism 2. marxist feministm 3. liberal feminism 4. socialist feministm 5. postmodern feminism
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radical feminism
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- a perspective that patriarchy is the cause of women's oppression -the system needs an overhaul in order for women to be treated equally
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marxist feminism
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-a perspective that sees the oppression of women as caused by their subordinate class status within capitalist societies -focus on the gendered division of labour and the economic arrangement in which men are given power and women are rendered powerless
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liberal feminism
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-a persepctive that holds that gender-role socialization is the primary source of women's oppression -there are barriers in society that limit women's equality and disadvantage them -inequality can be overcome by limiting decreased access to women; education, socialization etc
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socialist feminism
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-a perspective that examines social roles and the gender-based division of labour within the family, seeing both as significant sources of women's insubordination within society -challenges patriarchy and capitalism
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postmodern feminism
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-a perspective that questions the social construction of cocepts typically used in discussions of crime and jsutice -looks at a deconstruction of categories -looks at gender as nonbinary
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patriarchy
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the tradition of male dominance
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peacemaking criminology
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a perspective that holds that crime-control agencies and the citizens they serve should work together to alleviate social problems and human suffering and thus reduce crime
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restorative justice
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a perspective that stresses remedies and restoration rather than prison, punishment and neglect of victims
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peace model
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part of restorative justice: an approach to crime control that focuses on effective ways for developing a shared consensus on critical issues that have the potential to seriously affect the quality of life
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victim-offender reconciliation program
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a program that gives the offender the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the victim in the presence of a trained mediator in an attempt to reduce the victim's fears while reestablishing accountability and reparation for the crime
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policy implications for social conflict theories
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-social change in society -redistribution of wealth -dismantle the current capitalist state -equal justice in the bail system -abolition of mandatory sentences -prosecution of corporate crimes -increased employment opportunities -promotion of community alternatives to imprisonment -changing principles of conflict resolution
