TOWARD A MACROSOCIAL CONFLICT MODEL IN CRIMINOLOGY (FROM CRIMINOLOGY BETWEEN THE RULE OF LAW AND THE OUTLAWS, 1976, BY C W G JASPERSE, K A V LEEUWEN-BUROW & L G TOORNVLIET - SEE NCJ-38200)

• NCJ Number: 38205
• Author(s): C I DESSAUR
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: Kluwer Bv
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

THEORETICAL, METHODOLOGICAL, AND EMPIRICAL CRITICISMS OF THE USE OF THE SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANCE AS A BASIC TOOL IN EXPLAINING CRIMINALITY ARE PRESENTED AND A MACROSOCIAL 'SOCIOLOGY OF CONFLICT' APPROACH IS PROPOSED.

Abstract

CRIME IS CHARACTERIZED AS A MACROSOCIAL PHENOMENON GENERALLY INVOLVING THREE PARTIES - THE PERSON WHOSE BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN LABELLED CRIMINAL, THE PENAL ESTABLISHMENT, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE SOCIAL CONFLICT, OVER VALUES ALLOCATED BY THE PARTIES INVOLVED, IS DEFINED AS EXOGENOUS (LACKING A SUPER SYSTEM TO CONTROL OR RESOLVE THE CONFLICT), ASYMMETRIC (INVOLVING PARTIES WHICH ARE WIDELY DISPARATE AND/OR PERCEIVE EACH OTHER IN DIFFERENT WAYS), AND STRUCTURE-ORIENTED (ONLY RESOLVED THROUGH CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURE OF EITHER SYSTEM). IT IS ALSO TYPOLOGIZED AS A 'GAME', AN IRRATIONAL FIGHT BETWEEN THE COMPULSIVE CRIMINAL AND THE COMPULSIVELY SANCTIONING STATE, AND A 'DEBATE,' WITH THE STATE ATTEMPTING TO CONVERT THE APPREHENDED (PARTICULARLY POLITICAL) CRIMINAL INTO A CITIZEN IN ITS IMAGE AND LIKENESS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.