Social Conflict Theories:

Critical Criminology and Restorative Justice

Chapter 8

Figure 8.1 The Branches of Social Conflict Theory

Social Conflict Theory

Conflict: Good or Bad?

• Bad when leads to destruction such as?????Bad when leads to destruction such as?????

• Good when leads to positive social Good when leads to positive social change?????change?????

Marxist Thought

• Productive Forces and Productive RelationsProductive Forces and Productive Relations• Communist Manifesto focused attention on economic Communist Manifesto focused attention on economic

conditions of a capitalist systemconditions of a capitalist system• Productive forces:Productive forces:

• Include technology, energy sources, and material Include technology, energy sources, and material resourcesresources

• Productive relations:Productive relations: • Exist among people producing goods and servicesExist among people producing goods and services

Marxist Thought

• Productive Forces and Productive RelationsProductive Forces and Productive Relations• Bourgeoisie Bourgeoisie capitalists capitalists • Proletariat Proletariat working labor working labor• Lumpen proletariat Lumpen proletariat poor poor• Class denotes a position in relation to othersClass denotes a position in relation to others

Marxist Thought

• Surplus ValueSurplus Value• Laboring class produce goods that exceed wages in Laboring class produce goods that exceed wages in

valuevalue• Excess value goes into the hands of capitalistsExcess value goes into the hands of capitalists• Marx suggested workers would emerge into a socialist Marx suggested workers would emerge into a socialist

state and own the means of productionstate and own the means of production

Figure 8.3 Surplus Value

Marxist Thought

Developing a Conflict Based Theory of Crime• The Contribution of BongerThe Contribution of Bonger

• Upper class will commit if:Upper class will commit if:• They sense an opportunity of make financial gainThey sense an opportunity of make financial gain• Their lack of moral sense enables them to violate Their lack of moral sense enables them to violate

social rulessocial rules• Crime and poverty are associated with unequal Crime and poverty are associated with unequal

distribution of wealthdistribution of wealth

Developing a Conflict Based Theory of Crime• The Contribution of VoldThe Contribution of Vold

• Adapted conflict theory to criminologyAdapted conflict theory to criminology• Laws are created by politically oriented groupsLaws are created by politically oriented groups• Laws will be created to hamper and curb the interests Laws will be created to hamper and curb the interests

of some opposition groupof some opposition group• Criminal acts are a consequence of forces struggling to Criminal acts are a consequence of forces struggling to

control society (conflict) control society (conflict)

Social Conflict Theory

• Conflict theory tries to explain crime within Conflict theory tries to explain crime within economic & social contexts and to express economic & social contexts and to express connections between social class, crime, connections between social class, crime, and social controland social control• Relationship to crime began in the 1960sRelationship to crime began in the 1960s• Chambliss & Seidman suggests the justice system Chambliss & Seidman suggests the justice system

protects the rich and powerfulprotects the rich and powerful

Critical Criminology

• Origins of Critical Conflict TheoryOrigins of Critical Conflict Theory• In 1980s left realism emerged which influenced In 1980s left realism emerged which influenced

peacemaking criminologypeacemaking criminology• Critical conflict criminologists are concerned with the Critical conflict criminologists are concerned with the

recent conservative agendas of cutting social programs recent conservative agendas of cutting social programs and increased military spendingand increased military spending

Critical Criminology

• Fundamentals of Critical CriminologyFundamentals of Critical Criminology• Crime is a function of the capitalist mode of productionCrime is a function of the capitalist mode of production• The poor (proletariat) engage in street crimes, whereas The poor (proletariat) engage in street crimes, whereas

the wealthy (bourgeoisie) are involved in acts not the wealthy (bourgeoisie) are involved in acts not defined as crimes (racism, sexism, profiteering)defined as crimes (racism, sexism, profiteering)

• The rich are insulated from street crimesThe rich are insulated from street crimes• The poor are controlled through incarceration, whereas The poor are controlled through incarceration, whereas

the middle class is diverted from caring by the upper the middle class is diverted from caring by the upper classes creating a public fear of the lower classesclasses creating a public fear of the lower classes

Critical Criminology

• GlobalizationGlobalization• Criminals are products of society and economic Criminals are products of society and economic

systemssystems• Critical criminologists are wary of globalization and Critical criminologists are wary of globalization and

capitalization trendscapitalization trends

Critical Criminology

• Research on Critical CriminologyResearch on Critical Criminology• Marxists suggest that traditional research is designed to Marxists suggest that traditional research is designed to

unmask the weak and powerlessunmask the weak and powerless• Critical research tends to be historical and analytical, Critical research tends to be historical and analytical,

not qualitative and empiricalnot qualitative and empirical• Research involves both macro- and micro-level issuesResearch involves both macro- and micro-level issues

Contemporary Forms of Social Conflict Theory • Left RealismLeft Realism

• Lea & Young Lea & Young • The poor are doubly abused by capitalists and by The poor are doubly abused by capitalists and by

members of their own classmembers of their own class• Relative Deprivation equals discontent Relative Deprivation equals discontent discontent plus discontent plus

lack of political solution lack of political solution crime crime• Taylor Taylor

• The world is currently in the midst of multiple crisisThe world is currently in the midst of multiple crisis• Job creation, social inequality, social fear, political Job creation, social inequality, social fear, political

incompetence and failure, gender conflict, and family and incompetence and failure, gender conflict, and family and parenting issuesparenting issues

Contemporary Forms of Social Conflict Theory • Critical Feminist TheoryCritical Feminist Theory

• Critical feminists view gender inequality as stemming Critical feminists view gender inequality as stemming from the unequal power of men and women in a from the unequal power of men and women in a capitalist societycapitalist society

• Patriarchal (male dominated) systems devalue the work Patriarchal (male dominated) systems devalue the work of womenof women

• The exploitation of women produces far more surplus The exploitation of women produces far more surplus value for capitalists than it does for menvalue for capitalists than it does for men

Contemporary Forms of Social Conflict Theory • Patriarchy and CrimePatriarchy and Crime

• Critical feminists link criminal behavior patterns to Critical feminists link criminal behavior patterns to gender conflict created by economic and social gender conflict created by economic and social strugglesstruggles

• Double marginality explains why women commit less Double marginality explains why women commit less crime than mencrime than men

• Crime is the vehicle for men to “do gender”Crime is the vehicle for men to “do gender”

Contemporary Forms of Social Conflict Theory • Exploitation and CriminalityExploitation and Criminality

• Sexual victimization of females is a function of male Sexual victimization of females is a function of male socialization socialization

• Exploitation triggers the onset of female delinquency Exploitation triggers the onset of female delinquency such as running away to avoid abusesuch as running away to avoid abuse

• Some critics charge feminist scholars have ignored the Some critics charge feminist scholars have ignored the interests of women of color and lesbiansinterests of women of color and lesbians

Contemporary Forms of Social Conflict Theory • Power Control TheoryPower Control Theory

• Hagen Hagen • Crime and delinquency are a function ofCrime and delinquency are a function of

• 1) class position1) class position

• 2) family functions2) family functions

• Fathers assume the role of breadwinners, while mothers have Fathers assume the role of breadwinners, while mothers have menial jobs and are expected to control the behavior of daughtersmenial jobs and are expected to control the behavior of daughters

• Dissatisfied girls seek “role exit behaviors” Dissatisfied girls seek “role exit behaviors” • Examples Examples running away or suicide running away or suicide

• In “egalitarian families” both the husband and wife share similar In “egalitarian families” both the husband and wife share similar positions of powerpositions of power

Contemporary Forms of Social Conflict Theory • Postmodern TheoryPostmodern Theory

• Semiotics refers to the use of language elements as Semiotics refers to the use of language elements as signs or symbols beyond literal meaningsigns or symbols beyond literal meaning

• Deconstructionists analyze communication and Deconstructionists analyze communication and language in legal codes to determine whether they language in legal codes to determine whether they contribute to institutionalized racism or sexismcontribute to institutionalized racism or sexism

• Postmodernists contend value-laden language can Postmodernists contend value-laden language can promote inequalitiespromote inequalities

Contemporary Forms of Social Conflict Theory • Peacemaking CriminologyPeacemaking Criminology

• Main purpose of criminology is to promote a peaceful Main purpose of criminology is to promote a peaceful societysociety

• Draws inspiration from religious and philosophical Draws inspiration from religious and philosophical teachingsteachings

• Punishment encourages criminality rather than Punishment encourages criminality rather than deterring it (Tifft & Sullivan)deterring it (Tifft & Sullivan)

• Try to find humanist solutions (mediation and conflict Try to find humanist solutions (mediation and conflict resolution) to crime and other social problemsresolution) to crime and other social problems

Public Policy Implications of Social Conflict Theory • The Concept of Restorative JusticeThe Concept of Restorative Justice

• Contends that society needs to hold offenders accountable to Contends that society needs to hold offenders accountable to put right their harmsput right their harms

• Crime is an offense against human relationshipsCrime is an offense against human relationships• Victims and the community are central to justice processesVictims and the community are central to justice processes• The first priority is to restore the communityThe first priority is to restore the community• The offender has a personal responsibility to victims and to The offender has a personal responsibility to victims and to

the community for crimes committedthe community for crimes committed• The offender will develop improved competency and The offender will develop improved competency and

understanding as a result of the restorative experienceunderstanding as a result of the restorative experience

Public Policy Implications of Social Conflict Theory • Developing RestorationDeveloping Restoration

• The offender is asked to recognize and accept The offender is asked to recognize and accept responsibility of their criminal actionsresponsibility of their criminal actions

• Commitment to material restitution and symbolic Commitment to material restitution and symbolic reparation (apology)reparation (apology)

• Determination of community support an assistance for Determination of community support an assistance for both the victim and offenderboth the victim and offender

• The intended result is to repair injuries suffered by the The intended result is to repair injuries suffered by the victim and the community while reintegrating the victim and the community while reintegrating the offenderoffender

Public Policy Implications of Social Conflict Theory • The Challenge of Restorative JusticeThe Challenge of Restorative Justice

• Advocates warn of the uneven exercise of state powerAdvocates warn of the uneven exercise of state power• What is considered “restorative” in one subculture may What is considered “restorative” in one subculture may

be considered insulting or damaging in anotherbe considered insulting or damaging in another• Balancing the needs of offenders with those of the Balancing the needs of offenders with those of the

victimsvictims