Social Conflict, Critical Criminology, and Restorative Justice

Sample Solution

     

Critical Criminologists: Scholars who study crime from a critical perspective, questioning traditional explanations and focusing on the social, political, and economic factors that contribute to crime.

Critical Criminology: A branch of criminology that critiques traditional theories and focuses on power structures, social inequalities, and the role of capitalism in shaping crime patterns.

Communist Manifesto: A book written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848, outlining the principles of communism, a socioeconomic system advocating for common ownership of the means of production and a classless society.

Full Answer Section

      Productive Forces: In Marxist theory, the elements used to produce goods and services, including labor, tools, technology, and natural resources. Productive Relations: The social relationships people form when they produce goods and services. In capitalism, this refers to the relationship between the owners of the means of production (bourgeoisie) and the workers (proletariat). Capitalist Bourgeoisie: The wealthy class who own the means of production (factories, land, etc.) in a capitalist system. Proletariat: The working class who sell their labor for wages in a capitalist system. Lumpen Proletariat: A term used by Marx to describe the poorest and most marginalized members of society, often unemployed or underemployed. Dialectic Method: A philosophical approach developed by Hegel and used by Marx, which posits that ideas and social systems progress through a three-stage process: thesis (an idea or system emerges), antithesis (a counteracting idea or system emerges), and synthesis (a new idea or system emerges that combines elements of both the thesis and antithesis). Thesis: The initial proposition or argument in the dialectic method. Antithesis: The opposing proposition or argument that challenges the thesis in the dialectic method. Synthesis: A new idea or system that emerges from the conflict between the thesis and antithesis in the dialectic method. Supranational Crime: Criminal activities that transcend national borders, such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, and cybercrime. Surplus Value: In Marxist theory, the difference between the value of a worker's labor and the wages they are paid. Marx argued that capitalists exploit workers by keeping the surplus value for themselves. Marginalization: The process of being excluded or pushed to the fringes of society. Marginalized groups may experience discrimination, poverty, and limited access to resources. Dropout Factories: Schools with high dropout rates, often associated with low expectations, lack of resources, and a disengaged learning environment. Globalization: The increasing interconnectedness between countries and economies due to trade, technology, and communication. State-Organized Crime: Crimes committed by or with the support of a government, such as political repression, human rights abuses, or drug trafficking by government officials. Instrumental Theory: A criminological theory that suggests people commit crimes because they believe it is the most effective way to achieve their goals. Structural Theory: A criminological theory that focuses on social structures and inequalities that contribute to crime, such as poverty, lack of opportunity, and social disorganization. Demystify: To expose the underlying assumptions or biases of an idea or system. Critical criminology aims to demystify traditional crime theories that ignore the role of power and inequality. Intersectionality: A framework for understanding how different forms of social identity (race, class, gender, etc.) interact and create unique experiences of oppression and privilege. Critical Feminism: A branch of feminism that critiques traditional gender roles and examines how gender intersects with other forms of oppression.