Lecture Notes – Social Structure, Process and Conflict Theories
There are three law and order social perspectives: consensus, pluralist and conflict. The consensus perspective is based on the premise that most members of society agree on what is right and wrong and share a set of core values. This perspective assumes that the criminal law reflects the collective will of the people and serves everyone equally and believes that criminal behavior is not the norm. The pluralistic perspective assumes that there are a variety of viewpoints, values and beliefs and that most people agree on the usefulness of law as a formal means of dispute resolution so that the law is a peacekeeping tool used to resolve conflict. The conflict perspective holds that there is no consensus on what is right and wrong since conflict is a fundamental aspect of social life and that law is a tool of the powerful that is used to maintain their power (Schmalleger, 2002). Radical criminology is based on the writings of Karl Marx who believed that conflict was inevitable in any capitalist society and that crime was the result of political conflict between groups (Vold, et al., 2002). William Chambliss, a modern radical criminologist, suggested that the power gap between the powerful and the powerless is what creates crime. Richard Quinney stated that crime is inevitable under capitalist conditions (Lilly, et al., 2002). Modern radical-critical criminologists focus on gradual transistion to socialized forms of government activity (Schmalleger, 2002). There are a variety of new emerging social conflict theories including left-realist criminology, feminist criminology, postmodern criminology and peacemaking criminology. Left-realists argue that critical criminologists should redirect their attention to the fear and the very real victimization experienced by working class people (Bohm & Haley, 1999). Crimes are being perpetrated by the poweful and by members of their own class. Crime, especially street crime and domestic violence, needs to be taken more seriously with police working to protect the people (p.96). Feminist criminology attempts to include gender awareness in the thinking of critical criminologists by pointing out inequities inherent in patriarchal Modern radical-critical criminologists are interested in how governments are slowly moving toward more socialized ways of running things (Schmalleger, 2002). There are many new theories about social conflict, such as left-realist criminology, feminist criminology, postmodern criminology, and peacemaking criminology. Left-realists say that critical criminologists should focus on the fear and real victimization that people in the working class feel (Bohm & Haley, 1999). Powerful people and people from their own class are committing crimes. The police need to work harder to protect people from crime, especially street crime and domestic violence (p.96). Feminist criminology tries to get critical criminologists to think about gender by pointing out the unfairness of patriarchal ways of thinking (Schmalleger, 2002). forms of thought (Schmalleger, 2002). Social policies such as increasing controls over male violence toward women, creating alternatives for women facing abuse, and the protection of children (p.274) have become important issues. Postmodern criminology applies to understandings of social change inherent in postmodern philosophy, to criminological theorizng, and to issues of crime control. The goal is to challenge existing criminological perspectives and replace them with more relevant ones to the postmodern era (Schmalleger, 2002). Peacemaking criminology is a new form of postmodernism which suggests that citizens and social control agencies need to work together to alleviate social problems and reduce crime (p.280). Policy emphasis is placed on the transformation of human beings through an inner peace that enables individuals to experience empathy with those less fortunate and a desire to respond to the needs of other people.
Assignment:
Social Structure, Process and Conflict Theories
How can crime be a form of adaptation to one’s environment? Why would an individual choose such one form of adaptation over others that might be available?
Reflection posts are to be a minimum of THREE fully developed paragraphs must include a reference.
