Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Explaining Corruption: As Inevitable in a ‘System’ of Conflict?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Criminology of Corruption

  • 874 Accesses

Abstract

Theoretical approaches attempting to explain crime as a biological, psychological or social problem associated with offenders often ignore the way crime, real or imagined, is constructed. Labelling (see Chap. 9) makes some attempt to correct this oversight by explaining the process and its consequences and appreciation for the way in which political interests and power affects social reaction, but does little to explain the struggles between individuals and/or sets of people in terms of power differentials. This chapter reaches beyond labelling and considers those theoretical approaches that fall under the umbrella of conflict. The sources of these conflicts, how they are developed and the elimination of them are all considered by drawing on the work of Bonger (1916), Sellin (1939), Vold (1958), Dahrendorf (1958), Turk (1969), Chambliss (1962), Quinney (1969) and Taylor et al. (1973). The main thrust of this chapter is explaining conflict under capitalism, which is what the above authors discussed rather than dictatorships or an absolute monarchy, even though there are power differentials in all systems and corrupt individuals and organizations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aulette, J., & Michalowski, R. (1993). Fire in the hamlet: A case study of state-corporate crime. In K. Tunnell (Ed.), Political crime in contemporary America: A critical approach. New York: Garland Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barak, G. (1991). Toward a criminology of state criminality. In G. Barak (Ed.), Crimes by the capitalist state: An introduction to state criminality. New York: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barak, G. (1993). Crime, criminality and human rights: Toward an understanding of state criminality. In K. Turnell (Ed.), Political crime in contemporary America: A critical approach. New York: Garland Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bezlov, T., & Gounev, P. (2012). Bulgaria: Corruption and organised crime in flux. In P. Gounev & V. Ruggerio (Eds.), Corruption and organised crime in Europe: Illegal partnerships. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonger, W. (1916). Criminality and economic conditions. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, G., Walsh, D., Lewis, C., & Kim, H. (2013). The prevention of corruption: Investigation, enforcement and governance. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, R. (2001). An introduction to criminological theory. Devon: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambliss, W. (1969). Crime and the Legal Process. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambliss, W. (1975). Toward a political theory of crime. Theory and Crime, 2, 152–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambliss, W. (1989). State organized crime. Criminology, 27(2), 183–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambliss, W., & Seidman, R. T. (1971). Law, order and power. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, D., & Ester, M. (2007, November 16). Ruling details bribery across globe. Wall Street Journal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahrendorf, R. (1958). Class and class conflict in industrial society. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finckenauer, J. O., & Waring, E. J. (1998). Russian mafia in America: Immigration, culture and crime. Boston: Northeastern University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeh, L. (1994). Statement before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. United States Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. Washington, DC: United States Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedrichs, D. O. (1996). Governmental crime, Hitler and white collar crime: A problematic relationship. Caribbean Journal of Criminology and Social Psychology, 1(2), 44–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, M. (2003). The privatisation of Russia: Russian reform goes awry. New York: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Heywood, P. M. (2015). Routledge handbook of political corruption. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschi, T. (1969). Causes of delinquency. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, L. (2006). Rotten states: Corruption, post-communism and neo-liberalism. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Jagger, A. (1983). Feminist politics and human nature. Totawa, NJ: Rowman and Littlefield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kauzlarich, D., & Kramer, R. (1998). Crimes of the American nuclear state: At home and abroad. Boston: Northeastern University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kauzlarich, D., Mullins, C., & Matthews, R. (2003). A complicity continuum of state crime. Contemporary Justice Review, 6(3), 241–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, R. C., & Michalowski, R. J. (1990, November). Toward an integrated theory of state-corporate crime. Paper presented at American Society of Criminology Meeting, Baltimore, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lilly, R. J., Cullen, F. T., & Ball, R. A. (1989). Criminological theory: Context and consequences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCullough, J. (2007). Transnational crime as productive fiction. Social Justice, 34(2), 19–32.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Messner, S. F., & Rosenfeld, R. (2000). Market dominance, crime, and social dynamics of crime and control. In S. Karstedt & K.-D. Bussman (Eds.), Transition in social dynamics of crime and control: New theories for a World in transition. Portland, OR: Hart Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michalowski, R. J. (1981). Conflict, radical, and critical approaches to criminology. In Barak-Glatz & C. R. Huff (Eds.), The mad, the bad and the different. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olimpieva, I., & Panchekov, O. (2008). Who fights Corruption in Russia? In R. W. Ortung & A. Latta (Eds.), Russia’s Battle with crime, corruption and terrorism. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinney, R. (1969). Criminal justice in American society. Boston: Little Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinney, R. (1970). The Social Reality of Crime. Boston: Little Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinney, R. (1974). Critique of Legal Order: Crime Control in Capitalist Society. Boston: Little Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinney, R. (1975). Criminology: Analysis and critique of crime in America. Boston: Little Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinney, R. (1977). Class, state, and crime: On the theory and practice of criminal justice. New York: David McKay.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rawlinson, P. (2012). Corruption, organised crime and the free market in Russia. In P. Gounev & V. Ruggiero (Eds.), Corruption and organised crime in Europe. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rock, P. (1973). Phenomenalism and essentialism in the sociology of deviancy. Sociology, 7(1), 17–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sellin, T. (1938). Culture, conflict and crime. New York: Social Sciences Research Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sellin, T. (1939). Social conflict and conduct norms. New York: Social Science Research Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slapper, G., & Tombs, S. (1999). Corporate crime. Essex: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spitzer, S. (1980). ‘Left-Wing’ Criminology – an Infantile Disorder? In J. Inciardi Radical Criminology: The Coming Crises pp. 169–90. Beverley Hills, Calif: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterling, C. (1994). Crime without frontiers: The worldwide expansion of organised crime and the Pax Mafiosa. London: Little Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, E. H. (1939). Principles of criminology (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, E. H. (1949). White collar crime. New York: Dryden Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sykes, G. M. (1974). The rise of critical criminology. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 65(2), 206–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, I., Walton, P., & Young, J. (1973). The new criminology: For a social theory of deviance. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Tittle, C. R. (1995). Control balance: Toward a general theory of deviance. Boulder, CO: Westview press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turk, A. T. (1969). Criminality and legal order. Chicago: Rand McNally.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vold, G. B. (1958). Theoretical criminology. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkov, V. (2002). Violent entrepreneurs: The use of force in making Russian capitalism. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, A. (2005). Organised crime. Cullumpton: Willan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, J. (1988). Radical criminology in Britain: The emergence of a competing paradigm. British Journal of Criminology, 28(2), 159.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK

    Graham Brooks

Authors
  1. Graham Brooks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 2016 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Brooks, G. (2016). Explaining Corruption: As Inevitable in a ‘System’ of Conflict?. In: Criminology of Corruption. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51724-1_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51724-1_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-51723-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-51724-1

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation