The discussion confronts contradictions in liberal thought and argues that liberal assumptions exacerbate the marginality already experienced by populations designated officially as criminal. The analysis questions conventional definitions of crime and offers an alternative to traditional analyses by examining how social, cultural, and political processes influence definitions of crime and criminal behavior. The discussion begins with an overview and critique of classical perspectives on crime; addresses the possibility of a critical cultural alternative; and examines the relationships among concepts fundamental to this reconceptualization, including ideology, hegemony, political economy, and the government. The discussion emphasizes the centrality of power and highlights the practices of institutions such as the media and the law, with emphasis on how these institutions interact to discipline, dominate, and devalue certain elements of the population. Tables, figure, and approximately 1,700 references and suggested readings