Understanding Crime
Week 4 Lecture Notes
Con ict Theories
Introduction: Con ict and Critical Criminology
Con ict Criminology
• Interests determine values.
• The organised state does not represent common interests, instead it represents the interests of
those with su cient power.
• Powerful versus powerless.
Critical Criminology
• It is concerned with structures of power, and how these invariably re ect and promote a
particular worldview of social order and maintenance.
- Power structures are seen to be institutional in particular ways, and to re ect social interests
that oppress speci c categories of people.
• Belief that criminal justice system is unfair and biased, and advantages certain groups of
classes above others.
Con ict Theories of Crime
• All societies of crime assumes that all societies are in a. Process of constant change- this
dynamic process inevitably creates con icts among various groups.
• Con ict due to competition.
• Groups di er signi cantly in the amount of power or resources they have..
• State of inequalities and resulting oppression creates a sense of injustice and unfairness among
members of the less powerful groups.
- Such feelings can lead to crime.
• Marxist theories.
• Pluralistic (con ict) perspective.
Marxist Theories of Crime
• Karl Marx founded Marxism theory.
• Theories of crime focus on the fact that people from the lower classes are arrested and
charged with crime at a disproportionate rate.
• Society divided by money and power.
• Bourgeoisie (ruling class) use the law to control the lower the proletariat (lower class).
• Law is used as a tool to protect the economic interests. Of the bourgeoisie, as well as to
prevent the proletariat form gaining access to nancial resources.
Willem Bonger
• Emphasised the relationship between economy and crime but did not believe simply being poor
would cause criminal activity.
• Crime came about because capitalism caused a di erence in the way individuals felt about
society and their place in it.
• Strong focus on the individual leads to criminal behaviour.
Richard Quinney
• Crime was caused by the capitalistic economic structure and the emphasis on materials that
this system produced.
• Even the crimes committed by the upper classes are caused by capitalism.
Thorsten Sellin
• Conduct norms.
• Cultural diversity in industrial societies.
• Minority groups that break o will establish their own norms.
• Primary and secondary cultural con icts.
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Week 4 Lecture Notes
Con ict Theories
Introduction: Con ict and Critical Criminology
Con ict Criminology
• Interests determine values.
• The organised state does not represent common interests, instead it represents the interests of
those with su cient power.
• Powerful versus powerless.
Critical Criminology
• It is concerned with structures of power, and how these invariably re ect and promote a
particular worldview of social order and maintenance.
- Power structures are seen to be institutional in particular ways, and to re ect social interests
that oppress speci c categories of people.
• Belief that criminal justice system is unfair and biased, and advantages certain groups of
classes above others.
Con ict Theories of Crime
• All societies of crime assumes that all societies are in a. Process of constant change- this
dynamic process inevitably creates con icts among various groups.
• Con ict due to competition.
• Groups di er signi cantly in the amount of power or resources they have..
• State of inequalities and resulting oppression creates a sense of injustice and unfairness among
members of the less powerful groups.
- Such feelings can lead to crime.
• Marxist theories.
• Pluralistic (con ict) perspective.
Marxist Theories of Crime
• Karl Marx founded Marxism theory.
• Theories of crime focus on the fact that people from the lower classes are arrested and
charged with crime at a disproportionate rate.
• Society divided by money and power.
• Bourgeoisie (ruling class) use the law to control the lower the proletariat (lower class).
• Law is used as a tool to protect the economic interests. Of the bourgeoisie, as well as to
prevent the proletariat form gaining access to nancial resources.
Willem Bonger
• Emphasised the relationship between economy and crime but did not believe simply being poor
would cause criminal activity.
• Crime came about because capitalism caused a di erence in the way individuals felt about
society and their place in it.
• Strong focus on the individual leads to criminal behaviour.
Richard Quinney
• Crime was caused by the capitalistic economic structure and the emphasis on materials that
this system produced.
• Even the crimes committed by the upper classes are caused by capitalism.
Thorsten Sellin
• Conduct norms.
• Cultural diversity in industrial societies.
• Minority groups that break o will establish their own norms.
• Primary and secondary cultural con icts.
flfl flff ffifl fifl ff fl fl fi ff fl fl
