Revising Power and Crime

A short tip today on power. OK, short, but very useful. If you can get a good grip on power, then you can use this concept in just about every part of the specification on crime and deviance. Although there is a catch: if you’re one of those who think power is spread fairly equally throughout society, then that’s about it - there’s not much more to say. But if you agree with those who see power as spread very unevenly through our society - well, it follows that it can help explain a lot of issues in crime and deviance.

Power

A very important and useful concept.

Some theories see power as being widely spread around and shared - these are pluralist views of power. Also known as variable-sum views of power.

They suggest that its not the case that there is a limited amount of power available – if you haven’t got any, then you can always get some. Also, in any situation a person/group/institution will always have some power – never totally powerless.

Another view is the zero-sum view of power. This suggests that there is a fixed amount, so there are the haves and the have nots. This is more of a conflict sort of view.

Also, power can be linked to resources, and so be economic, or it can be more to do with culture or tradition – e.g. patriarchy. Equally, different aspects of power can be interlinked.

Power is mportant in crime in various ways:

Who has the power to create and define the law?

Men, Women, Children, Ethnic groups, Social Classes?

Do we all (individually or as members of social groups) have equal power to define the law?

Who has the power to challenge the law and the criminal justice system?

Who does the law represent, whose interests does it represent?