SOCI 2450 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Social Class, Social Control, Bourgeoisie
19 Jun 2020
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Document Summary
Capitalist state: use of law to control lower class. Explain crime within economic + social contexts: connection between, social class, crime, social control. Intergroup conflict/rivalry: causes crime in all societies regardless of economic structure. Crime producing traits of capitalist societies: critical and radical (marxist) criminology. Crime-class data inaccurate: crime underreported in high social classes. Criminal law: used to impose morality of the powerful. Conflict theory: provided basis for challenging governments application of law. How: control of political/economic system affects way cj is administered, definitions of crime favour those in control. Analyze: role of conflict in modern society, ways justice is skewed. Power: ability persons/group to determine+ control behaviour of others and shape public opinion to meet their personal interests, unequal distribution of power creates conflict. Racism and justice process: discretion used by police to charge with more serious offences, perpetuates class/race division in society. Main purpose of criminology is to promote a peaceful just society.
