Explain Hagedorn's belief that changing social and economic conditions in the post-globalization world has supported the spread of gang activity. Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• Worldwide urbanization and the concentration of population in crowded, poor, and disorganized cities has created fertile conditions for the growth of gangs, particularly in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
• In the global era, the state has retreated from its role of providing social welfare and an economic safety net. Gangs and other groups of armed young people occupy the vacuum created by the retreat of the social welfare policies of the state.
• Youths who fear being marginalized in a technological economy that is growing more sophisticated by the day seek alternatives to conventional society.
• Globalization has created a flourishing underground economy that can be exploited by internationally connected enterprises run by gangs, cartels, and similar groups who can easily export black market items ranging from guns to pirated films and CDs.
• The wealth of the global economy has led to the redivision of space in cities all across the globe. "Economic development," "making the city safe," and "ethnic cleansing" has meant clearing out undesirables from urban spaces coveted by dominant ethnic or religious majorities. In America, this often means displacing African American youths from city centers so that these areas can be gentrified and rebuilt.
• Some gangs institutionalize and become permanent social actors in communities, cities, and nations rather than fading away after a generation. These gangs often replace or rival demoralized political groups and play important social, economic, and political roles in cities around the world.
• Student views will vary.