SOC212H1 Chapter 9: Social Conflict Theory
Document Summary
Goal = explain crime within economic and social contexts. Connections b/t social class, crime and social control. Personal group power in shaping the law. View crimes as outcome of class struggle. Law = mechanisms for controlling dissatisfied members of society while maintaining position of the powerful. Explains why wealthy crimes are sanctioned more leniently. Rejects idea that law maintains tranquil society and criminals are violent and predatory. Production has two components: productive forces technology, relations of production. Relationship b/t the owners of the means of production and the working class. Dominant class influence all aspects of life, as lives revolve around means of production. Societies change as a result of unresolved social conflict. Engels: crime as a function of social demoralization workers demoralized by capitalist society, working people do crime cause their choice is death by starvation or by law. Society divided into have and have-nots based on system of production. Laws created by the rich and protect the rich.
