SOCIOLOGICAL VIEWS OF CRIMES & DELINQUENCY: THE CONFLICT THEORY

Module No. 6
Total Study Hours: 6hrs
Module Writer: PROF. RIZALINO D. FLORES III
Registered Criminologist
PHD in Criminal Justice w/ Specialization in
Criminology

Module and Learning Facilitator Contacts: FB Messanger: Rizalino Flores

rizalinoflores3@gmail.com

Module Learning Outcomes:

● Explain the general concept of social conflict theory

● Enumerate and discuss theories under Social Conflict Theory
● Explain the role of Capitalist system in crime causation
● Discuss the contributions of personalities that influenced social conflict theories of crime
● Enumerate and discuss emerging forms of conflict theory

CONTENT

Social Conflict Theory

⮚ Deeply grounded and inspired by the Marxist Thought

o Author of the Communist Manifesto
o Focused his attention on the economic conditions perpetuated by the Capitalist System

NOTE: Capitalism is often thought of as an economic system in which private actors own and control
property in accord with their interests, and demand and supply freely set prices in markets in a way that
can serve the best interests of society. The essential feature of capitalism is the motive to make a profit.
o Capitalism had turned workers into dehumanized mass who lived an existence that was
at the mercy of their capitalist employers who demanded obedience and cooperation
and offered little in return
o He concluded that the character of every civilization is determined by its mode of
production – the way its people develop and produce material goods control all human
relations (materialism)
o Components of production:
▪ Productive forces – include thing, such as technologies, energy sources and
material resources
▪ Productive relations – the relations that exist among the people producing
goods and services in the industrial culture.
● Capitalist Bourgeoisie – the owner of the means of production
● Proletariat – the people who do the actual labor
o Marxist Social Class Structure
 ▪ Capitalist Bourgeoisie – Top

▪ Proletariat – Middle

▪ Lumpen Proletariat – Bottom (the fringe members who produce nothing and
live parasitically, off the work of others)

NOTE: In Marxist view the term class does not refer to an attribute or characteristic of a person or a
group; rather it denotes position in relation to others. Hence, being a Capitalist is not about having a
particular wealth or prestige but to have power to exploit others economically, legally, and socially.

o Marx believed that society and their structures were not stable, and therefore could
change through slow evolution or sudden violence. Historically, such change occurs
because of contradictions present in a society
o Marx believed the ebb and the flow of the capitalist business cycle contained the seeds
of its own destruction
o Using the idea of Georg Hegel. Marx analyzes “social struggle” in that for every idea
(Thesis), there exists an opposing arguments (Antithesis), the result is the merger of the
two ideas (Synthesis)
o He predicted that form the ashes of capitalism, would grow a socialist state in which the
worker themselves would own the means of production

⮚ Developing Conflict Theory (CT) of Crime

CT was first applied to Criminology by three distinguished scholars: Willem Bonger, Ralp
Dahrendorf and George Vold

o Willem Bonger

▪ Penal law serves the will of the ruling class. Crimes then are considered to be
antisocial acts because they are harmful to those who have the power at their
command to control the society
▪ It is not the absolute amount of wealth that affects crime, but its distribution. If
wealth is distributed unequally throughout the social structure and people are
taught to equate economic advantage with superiority, then those who are
poor and therefore inferior will be crime prone. The economic system will
intensify any personal disadvantage people have (ex. Psychological problem)
and increase their propensity to commit crime
▪ Bonger believed that redistribution of property according to maxim “each
according to his needs” would be the demise (death) of crime. If socialism can
be achieved, however, then remaining crimes will be of the irrational
psychopathic type by individual mental problems
 o Ralp Dahrendorf

▪ Modern society is organized into what he called imperatively coordinated

associations. These associations comprise two groups: those who possesses
authority and those who lack authority and are dominated

NOTE: A system of social organization in which individuals or groups are linked together through a
network of rules, regulations, and hierarchical structures.

▪ Society is a plurality of competing interest group (Industry and government

cannot dominate each other)
▪ The interest of one group may not match the needs of others (working class of
today is far from being a homogenous group)
▪ Proposed a unified conflict theory of human behavior, which can be summarized
as follow
● Social change is everywhere
● Social conflict is everywhere
● Every element of society render a contribution to its disintegration and
change
● Every society is based in the coercion of some of its members by others
▪ Serves as pillar of modern conflict theory

o George Vold

▪ Laws are created by politically oriented groups who seek the government’s
assistance to help them defend their rights and protect their interests
▪ Criminal act are consequence of direct contact between forces struggling to
control society (police and criminals)
▪ Although their criminal content may mask their political meaning, closer
examination of even the most basic violent act often reveals political
undertones

⮚ Conflict theory (CT) views crime as the outcome of class struggle. According to this view, conflict
works to promote crime by creating a social atmosphere in which the law is mechanism for
controlling dissatisfied, have – not members of society while the wealthy maintain their position
of power. Hence, crimes committed by the wealthy such as illegal corporate activities, are
sanctioned more leniently than those, such as burglary, that are considered lower – class
activities. CT consider acts of racism, sexism, imperialism, unsafe working conditions,
inadequate child care, substandard housing, pollution of the environment and war as a tool of
foreign policy as “true crimes”. The crimes of the helpless such as burglary, robbery, and assault
are more expressions of rage over unjust conditions than actual crimes. By focusing on how the
 state uses the law to control the lower classes, CT seeks to show that crime is inevitable result of
interclass hostility.

⮚ Marxist Criminology

o In opposition to pure conflict theory which views crime as a function of the class conflict
that can exist in any society, Marxist criminologists view crime as function of the
capitalist mode of production
o Economic competitiveness is the is the essence of social life and controls the form and
function of social institution
o Surplus population (those jobless) provides an excess supply of labor that enhances
the position of industrialists when bargaining with unions. Desperate people are
willing to work for minimum wage and supply a large pool of inexpensive labor. A
growing reminder to existing workers that if they organize or demand higher wages
they can be easily replaced.
o They view human rights violations such as racism, sexism, and profiteering as the “real
crimes” and those street crime such as rape, murder, theft and mugging are committed
mostly by the poor out of desperation
o Typical business crimes committed by the capitalists such as regulatory laws are rarely
enforced and lightly punished

▪ Instrumental Marxism – They view criminal law and criminal justice system
solely as an instrument for controlling the poor, have – not members of society,
the State is the tool of the Capitalists
▪ Structural Marxism – Views that law is not the exclusive domain of the rich,
but it is used to maintain the long – term interest of the capitalist system (to
keep it operating efficiently) and to control members of any class who pose a
threat to its existence. Anyone, capitalist or proletariat, who “rocks the boat”
is targeted to be sanctioned

⮚ Emerging Forms of Conflict Theory

o Left Realism

▪ Reject the utopian views of “idealistic” Marxist who portray street criminals as
revolutionaries
▪ They take a more realistic approach saying that the street criminals prey on the
poor, thus making them doubly abused, first by the capitalist system and then
by members of their own class. Gangs are not made up of “Robin Hoods” or
revolutionaries. Gangs may be the “ultimate capitalist” preying on members of
their own class and race and are happy to keep the proceeds for themselves
▪ Believes that community effort seems to hold the most promise as crime
control techniques. Preemptive Deterrence is an approach in which community
 organization efforts eliminate or reduce crime before it become necessary to
employ police force.
▪ Believes that it is unrealistic to speak of a socialist state lacking a police force or
system of law and justice. They believe that the criminal code, does in fact
represent public opinion

o Marxist Feminism

▪ Views gender inequality as stemming from the unequal power of men and
women in a capitalist society and treat it as a function of female exploitation by
fathers and husbands.
▪ Women are considered a “commodity” worth processing, like land or money

▪ In every culture males try to emulate what are considered ideal masculine
behavior such as being authoritative, in – charge, combative and controlling.
Failure to adopt these roles leaves men feeling effeminate and unmanly. Their
struggle to dominate women to prove their manliness is called “doing gender”.

o Postmodern Theory/Semiotics/Deconstructionist

▪ Focus on the critical analysis of communication and language in legal codes

(always have more than one literal meaning)
▪ Rules and regulations are analyzed to determine whether they contain language
and content that forces (encourage) racism or sexism to become
institutionalized

o Peacemaking Criminology

▪ Promotes a peaceful and just society

▪ Views that effort of the state to punish and control is crime encouraging rather
than discouraging. Accordingly, the violent punishing acts of the state are of the
same genre (kind) as the violent acts of individuals which reflects an attempt to
monopolize human interaction
▪ Mutual aid rather than coercive punishment is the key to harmonious society.
Society must seek humanitarian forms of justice without resorting to brutal
punishments (Restorative Justice). Hence, advocated such policies as mediation
and conflict resolution (humanist solution)

Assessment Methods
 1. MIDTERM EXAMINATION

References:

Larry, S., & Senna, J., & Welsh, B., (2006). Juvenile Delinquency: Theory Practice and Law (Vol. 1).
Thompson/Wadworth

Larry J. Siegel (2004). Criminology Theories, Patterns & Typologies, Eight ed. Thompson/Wadworth