Crimes of the powerful Flashcards
(8 cards)
What are crimes of the powerful in sociology?
Crimes of the powerful include white-collar crime, corporate crime, and state crime. These are offences committed by elites in business or government that often go undetected or unpunished due to their influence, complexity, and societal blind spots.
How do Marxists explain crimes of the powerful?
Marxists argue capitalism promotes profit-driven crime among the elite. Box (1983) said large corporations will commit crimes if it increases profit and they can avoid detection. The law reflects ruling class interests, so elite crime is rarely punished.
What is the significance of state crime as a form of power-based offending?
State crimes include genocide, torture, and corruption. Cohen (2001) explains how states use neutralisation techniques to deny harm. These crimes highlight how governments can break laws with little accountability, showing that power shields crime.
How do sociologists like Tombs & Whyte frame corporate crime?
Tombs & Whyte argue corporate crime causes more harm than street crime — through unsafe working conditions, environmental damage, and financial fraud. These crimes are often under-policed due to their complexity and elite backing.
Why is crime of the powerful difficult to research or prosecute?
Green & Ward (2012) note that state and corporate actors control information. Whistleblowers face threats, and legal definitions may be vague or politically influenced. This means crimes of the powerful often remain invisible and unpunished.
Why might corporate crime be underestimated or ignored in stats?
Sutherland (1949) coined white-collar crime to challenge the idea that crime is only working-class. He found elite crimes are often unrecorded or redefined as civil breaches. Official statistics underestimate harm from corporate offenders.
What do interactionists say about defining crimes of the powerful?
Interactionists like Nelken argue that the powerful can avoid labels of criminality. Their actions may be harmful but not defined as crimes. This supports labelling theory: crime is socially constructed and those with power control the narrative.
How is punishment for elite crime often symbolic or absent?
Tombs (2013) argues the justice system targets street crime, not elite offenders. When corporations are fined, it’s often a cost of doing business, not a deterrent. This shows how inequality shapes which crimes are pursued and punished.
