INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AS UNDERLYING CONDITIONS OF RACE RIOTS (FROM CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, A READER, 1970 BY CARL A BERSANI - SEE NCJ-006248)

• NCJ Number: 10218
• Author(s): S LIEBERSON; A R SILVERMAN
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Macmillan
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW, V 30, N 6 (DECEMBER 1965), P 887, 891-898

Annotation

POPULATION GROWTH AND COMPOSITION, WORK SITUATIONS, HOUSING, AND RESPONSIVENESS OF CITY GOVERNMENTS ARE EXAMINED AS POSSIBLE CAUSES OF RACE RIOTS.

Abstract

QUANTITATIVE DATA WAS COLLECTED ON CITIES WHICH EXPERIENCED RIOTS FROM 1910 THROUGH 1960. EACH CITY EXPERIENCING A RIOT WAS COMPARED WITH A CITY AS SIMILAR AS POSSIBLE IN SIZE AND REGION WHICH HAD NO RIOT IN THE TEN YEARS PRECEDING OR FOLLOWING THE RIOT DATE. RIOTS OCCUR MORE LIKELY WHEN SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION INADEQUATELY, OR WHEN GRIEVANCES ARE NOT RESOLVED OR CANNOT BE RESOLVED UNDER THE EXISTING INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS. THIS CONCLUSION IS SUPPORTED BY THE RESEARCH FINDINGS. PROMPT POLICE ACTION AND CITY GOVERNMENT RESPONSES CAN PREVENT RIOTS FROM DEVELOPING. RIOT CITIES TENDED TO EMPLOY FEWER NEGRO POLICEMEN, INCREASING THE CHANCES FOR TOLERANCE OF WHITE PRECIPITATED VIOLENCE, AND TO HAVE ELECTORAL SYSTEMS LESS SENSITIVE TO THE DEMANDS OF THE ELECTORATE. A LACK OF VIABLE ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS ALSO WAS FOUND TO BE AN UNDERLYING CAUSE OF RIOTS. NEGROES WERE LESS LIKELY TO BE STORE OWNERS IN RIOT CITIES, AND CITIES WITH SMALL NEGROWHITE INCOME DIFFERENCES EXPERIENCED MORE MASS VIOLENCE.