What is the history of conflict theory in contemporary criminology?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Conflict theory is rooted in the writings of Karl Marx, who identified two main social classes within capitalist societies: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. He saw class conflict as inevitable and believed the natural outcome of this conflict would be the overthrow of the capitalist social order and the creation of a communist society.

An early 20th century Dutch sociologist, Willem Bonger, echoed Marx when he described the ongoing struggle between the haves and the have-nots as a natural consequence of a capitalist society and said that in capitalist societies only those without power are routinely subject to the criminal law.

George Vold, a mid-20th century criminologist expanded upon the work of Marx and Bonger. He saw crime as the result of political conflict between groups and considered it to be a natural expression of the struggle for power and control. According to Vold, the process of law making, law breaking, and law enforcement reflects ongoing fundamental conflicts between various interest groups. Those groups that obtain legislative majorities gain control over the power to make laws and thus control the development of policies that decide who is likely to be involved in behaviors that violate the law. Vold's writings led to the development of conflict theory in criminology

Ralf Dahrendorf, a mid-20th century German sociologist, also saw conflict as a fundamental part of society. He stated that, rather than conflict being unusual or deviant, it is an absence of conflict that would be abnormal. Like Vold, Dahrendorf argued that power and authority lead to conflict between groups, and that conflict leads to change, which can be either destructive or constructive.

American sociologist Austin Turk viewed the law as a tool that serves those social groups seeking control over others and saw crime as the natural consequence of intergroup struggles because it resulted from the definitions imposed by the laws of the powerful upon the disapproved strivings of the unempowered.