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PRODUCTION OF CRIMINOLOGY

NCJ Number
55563
Journal
Criminology Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1979) Pages: 445-458
Author(s)
R QUINNEY
Date Published
1979
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE PLACE OF TRADITIONAL CRIMINOLOGY WITHIN THE CAPITALIST SOCIOECONOMIC STRUCTURE IS INTERPRETED, AND THE ROLE OF THE MARXIST RADICAL CRIMINOLOGIST WITHIN THE CAPITALIST STRUCTURE IS EXPLAINED.
Abstract
WE ARE AT THE SAME TIME PRODUCTS OF OUR CULTURE AND CREATORS OF IT. THE BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS WITHIN A GIVEN CULTURE ARE ROOTED IN THE BASIC SURVIVAL MEANS STRUCTURED FOR ITS PARTICIPANTS. IN A CAPITALIST SOCIETY, CULTURE IS FORMED BY THE CLASS BEHAVIOR OF THE PROLETARIAT (THOSE WHOSE LABOR DIRECTLY PRODUCES GOODS WHOSE SALE GIVE SURPLUS VALUE) AND THE BOURGEOISIE (THOSE WHO OWN THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION AND RECEIVE THE SURPLUS VALUE OF GOODS PRODUCED BY THE PROLETARIAT). CRIMINOLOGISTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY YOKED TO EITHER OF THESE MAJOR CLASSES IN SOCIETY; HOWEVER, TRADITIONAL CRIMINOLOGY HAS SERVED THE INTEREST OF COMBATING ALL BEHAVIOR THAT THREATENS THE INTERESTS OF THE BOURGEOISIE. RADICAL CRIMINOLOGISTS, ASSUMING CONTINUED ECONOMIC SUPPORT FROM THOSE WHO ADVOCATE FREE ACADEMIC INQUIRY AND PROPAGATION OF NONTRADITIONAL CONCEPTS, CAN ADOPT A POSTURE OF THINKING AND ADVOCACY THAT IS IN ACCORD WITH A MARXIST-SOCIALIST VIEW OF CULTURE. SUCH A POSTURE INVOLVES TRANSCENDING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONING TO ENGAGE IN DIALECTICAL THINKING THAT REVEALS THE EXPLOITATION AND PLOYS FOR SURVIVAL NECESSARILY CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAPITALIST SOCIEOCONOMIC SYSTEM. THE RADICAL CRIMINOLOGIST FRAMES IN AND THROUGH HIS OWN MIND A PERCEPTION OF A NEW REALITY THAT BOTH CHALLENGES AND TRANSFORMS EXISTING CAPITALIST CULTURE. HIS POSITION IS ANALOGOUS TO THAT OF THE ARTIST, WHO THROUGH HIS OWN CREATIVE PERCEPTIONS STRUCTURES THROUGH HIS ART A NEW WAY OF EXPERIENCING LIFE. IN LIKE MANNER, THE RADICAL CRIMINOLOGIST PORTRAYS IN HIS THOUGHT, WRITINGS, AND THE PRESENTATION OF HIS PERCEPTIONS A VIEW OF THE STRUCTURE OF LIFE AND BEHAVIOR IN A TRULY SOCIALIST SOCIETY. REFERENCES ARE LISTED. (RCB)

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