International Journal of Criminology and Sociological Theory (IJCST - York University)
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Criminals/Refugees in the Age of Welfareless States: Zygmunt Bauman on Ethnicity, Asylum and the new ‘Criminal’
Full text linkRefugees have become a hotly debated political issue in the West. Adverse effects of globalization on European labor markets, the greater availability of ethnic minorities in this region, and fear of crime and terrorism, have made these groups convenient targets for waves of hate crimes, governmental escapegoating, and media-driven demonization since the end of the 1980s. Western governments are increasingly determined to restrict influx of refugees. They have been increasingly abandoning their liberal values and have been governing their population through politics of fear of crime and insecurity. Refugees are subject to increasing harassment, hatred, detention, discrimination, criminalization, and transfer to remote and dangerous places. Changing forms of displacement, racism and criminalization of refugees have increasingly become the focal points of Zygmunt Bauman’s work. This paper discusses Bauman’s views on criminalization of refugees. It will discuss the social processes that Bauman believes create and sustain it. I believe that Bauman’s conducive to a richer and a more coherent understanding of the new processes that create refugees
Language as a Puppet of Politics: A Study of McCain’s and Obama’s Speech on Iraq War, a CDA Approach
Full text linkOn Tuesday, 4 November 2008 one of the most significant events of the world will happen: the presidential election of the U.S.1 The 44th president of the U.S will enter the White House on 20th January 2009. This election is in fact a competition between two main parties: republican and democratic. This paper studies the speeches of the nominees of these two parties: John McCain and Barack Obama. We selected one of their speeches on a similar topic (“Iraq War”) and incorporated their states in the framework of CDA introduced by Norman Fairclough. The results show that the two senators take two opposite strands on the same event. They use language as a means of promoting their own social, political, personal interests. Language is an effective means for power struggle
Social Trust in Local Communities and Its Demographic, Socioeconomic Predictors: The Case of Kalloni, Lesvos, Greece
Full text linkSocial capital has been recognised as an important factor for the development of local communities and relevant literature review has associated high levels of trust with economic and local development. The present article explores one of the two basic dimensions of social capital, social trust (the other being civic participation) and its association with demographic variables, such as gender, age, educational level and income as predictors of development. A study was conducted in the municipality of Kalloni, Lesbos Greece, where social trust levels were measured among 302 inhabitants. Findings revealed that educational level and income are strong predictors of social trust, with better educated and better paid individuals showing higher probabilities of being trusting towards other people
Criminalization of Refugees in the Age of Insecurity and Mass Migration: Zygmunt Bauman on Ethnicity, Asylum and the new ‘Criminal’
Full text linkImmigrants and refugees continue to be a controversial political issue in Western countries. Negative impacts of globalization on European labor markets, increasing presence of ethnic minorities in the West, and increasing fear of terrorism and crime, have made them easy targets for hate crimes, governmental mistreatment, and demonization by the media. Western governments are determined to prevent or restrict influx of refugees. They have been progressively deserting their time-honored liberal principles and have been governing their people through politics of fear of crime and foreigners, and insecurity. Refugees are subject to growing bigotry, criminalization, and transfer to inhumane camps. Developing forms of dislocation, prejudice and criminalization of refugees have been key points of Zygmunt Bauman’s for several years now. This paper discusses Bauman’s evolving views on criminalization of refugees. It will discuss novel sociopolitical processes that he has recently pointed to as processes that sustain it.  
Liberal Democracy, Citizenship and Class: Unresolved Contradictions of Capitalism
Full text linkWith the post-war expansion of the welfare state, which provided a material basis for the adoption of social right as complementary to civil and political rights components of citizenship, there emerged an omnipresent conviction to assume that the institutionalization of citizenship in liberal democratic societies has not only deflected the threat of social instability but it has also eclipsed social class struggle from the plane of history. Contrary to this prevailing interpretation, which has failed to take into account the fragile nature of the social right component of citizenship, it will be demonstrated that the establishment of citizenship has not surmounted the inveterate contradictions of capitalist social relations
Seasonality of violent and property crime in Nigeria: Some Preliminary Findings
Full text linkThis study examines seasonal patterns of crime in two Nigerian cities with varying weather conditions. Using residents’ perception of crime data, break-ins are perceived to occur more frequently in the low quality neighbourhoods in Benin City, whereas in Minna, it is perceived to occur regularly in the high quality neighbourhoods. Overall results show that Minna, with warmer climate has higher levels and seasonal variations for violent crime (assaults) while Benin City, with colder climates has higher levels and seasonal variations for property crimes (break-ins). It is apparent from this study that seasonal patterns of crime in one place may not translate effectively into another. Hence, continuous researches into seasonal analysis of crimes are justifiable in the security planning efforts to ensure an environment that is suitable for living, working and recreating
Towards a Conceptualization of Recidivism and Repetitive Behavior
Full text linkOur main goal is to propose a prototype for a model in order to qualitatively vet uncontrolled behavior, foremost criminal recidivism, and we put forward the following research question (RQ): how might a prototype be constructed theorizing the process of uncontrolled repetitive behavior? This paper is of a Conceptual design type. The conceptual design shows that each type of movement that a criminal makes has its own particularity and opportunity that cannot be repeated exactly from one event to the next. That is, the progress in an individual trajectory is dynamic in its character and cannot be reversed, here identified as Dynamic Replication rather than repeat behavior. With this research it is probably safe to say that an individual has little knowledge of the direct outcome of a process of repetitive behavior and thus has little chance of departing from it, at least all by themself. In the criminal case, there are organizations that work in the direction of accepting a Dynamic Replication, which means an acceptance of processes in social networks but aiming to other desires and an individual mind. The prototype purports to help render clear—factor by factor, step by step, event by event, prop by prop—an individual’s entrapment through a recurrent mimicking behavior, frequently out of rational control in terms of its teleological outcome
From doldrums to progressing knowledge: Identifying stifling issues in criminological theory building and testing
Full text linkIn the explanation of crime, although each social science has a primary focus of theoretical development, there are a number of areas where disciplines unwittingly parallel one another. Such parallel development promotes unnecessary competition among theories and prevents them from progressing knowledge. Additionally, theorists often discard related concepts presented by other disciplines, if they considered at all, which is indicative of an imbalance in the disciplinary frame of reference (e.g., psychology over sociology). Such imbalance and lack of cross-referencing impedes the ability of theories to adequately explain and understand criminality. This paper revisits how the theorizing of crime may benefit from such cross-referencing through what we refer to as a reciprocating perspective. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature, we present a conceptual approach that can aid in strengthening theoretical development. Aiming to create an interdisciplinary bridge, we address key pitfalls in criminological theory development through four main elements: (1) concept formalization, (2) multi-level conceptualization, (3) causality, and (4) application. We also outline problems caused by such imbalance, and the progress made possible by the approach
‘Honey let’s just keep the doors open’: A Critical study on the abrogation of spousal privileged communication in Canada and its implications in criminology
Full text linkThe doctrine of spousal privileged communication existed in the common law and the Canadian law for centuries until it was abruptly abrogated in the year 2015 by the previous conservative government in light of the victims’ rights movement, without much debate or discussion in the parliament. Communications between spouses (and now partners) were privileged on the ground that they were so closely identified with each other than an aura of bias would surround any testimonial evidence they may present before a court against their partner, due to an inherent or vested interest in the trial. Until 2015, the reason this privileged communication was protected, with some limitations, was due to the preservation of marital harmony. Why was the preservation of marital harmony no more a social value in Canada? I argue that this unfounded and abrupt abrogation was unwarranted and since the same was done without any research, it will have long term implications in criminology. Therefore, this paper has three key aims, firstly, to explore the concept, meaning and the origin of spousal privileged communication in Canada and the commonwealth including the reasons behind safeguarding and fostering spousal relationships over other relationships. Secondly, the applicability and scope of spousal privileged communication in Canada pre and post 2015, i.e. Bill C-32 that abrogated spousal privileged communication in Canada. Chapter 2 will also address some key points that contradicts the intention of the legislature behind abrogating spousal privileged communication. Thirdly, the paper argues that the spousal privileged communication should have been retained, and draws upon evidence from criminological, sociological and legal realms to define four key reasons why this is so. This paper essentially calls for further understanding of the causal mechanisms that flow from the abrogation of this spousal privilege and for monitoring future outcomes through longitudinal studies
Consumption in Crime: Fashion as the Construction of a Criminal Self in Society
Full text linkThe overarching aim of this article is to explore criminal recidivism. Criminal recidivism is one of the largest problems for correctional institutions and thus ambition in Western countries. In particular, we aim to provide a partial explanation as to why some correctional ambitions worldwide frequently have such a low success rate in dealing with recidivism in general. The objects of analysis in this study are criminals as a distinct group of citizens, outsiders if you will, a them in an us-and-them dichotomy. The results of the study then become an explanation that can be portrayed in terms of a trajectory of meaning in a process over time. Here we consider the consumption of crime as being similar to the consumption of fashion recognized in a personal role and identity. Fashion is chosen as an example of consumption that pertains to desire and hence to longing for a better life.