SOC 2700 Study Guide - Serendipity, Discourse Analysis, Left Realism

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 2700
• Professor: Norman Dubeski

Document Summary

Critical theories share the view that inequality in power is causally related to the problem of crime. But conflict theory largely ignores the sources of origins of power, while critical perspectives make specific arguments on that issue. Marxist theories generally locate power in ownership of the means of production, while postmodern theories locate it in the control over language systems. Both perspectives imply that the crime problem can be solved only if power arrangements are changed. Getting to the root of the problem of crime according to these perspectives requires social change at the most fundamental level. Ultimately the focus is on ideals, such as social justice and attempt to determine how contemporary societies can achieve these ideals. (the focus is on what ought to be, not what is) Karl marx wrote in the immediate aftermath of the massive social changes that were brought about by the industrial revolution