Book Review: Deviance, Conformity and Control
| DOI | 10.1177/000486589302600112 |
| Published date | 01 March 1993 |
| Date | 01 March 1993 |
| Subject Matter | Book Reviews |
BOOK REVIEWS 93
He
argues very cogently
that
the classical conception of
human
action, with its
emphasis on freedom, rationalality and choice, has recently found favour with the
rise of economic rationalism. As well as suiting monetarist economists it has also
been
very influential in criminology.
The
criminological version
has
similarly
tended
to be associated with political conservatism.
This 'criminologicalversion
of
monetarism'
has
focused on effective crime control,
and
assumes humans to be free, rational
and
capable
of
making
independent
choices. Hence it emphasises deterrence through punishment
and
can thus
legitimately claim to
be
heir to the original modernist or classical position as laid
down in the 18th century.
Roshier describes how in
the
late 1960s and early 19708these classical ideas were
dealt
with
rather
differently. Radical criminologists alongside
other
progressive
academics, students
and
practitioners engaged in criminal justice practice at
that
time will remember
the
heady days of interactionism and societal
reation
theories.
In this version, criminals
and
other
members
of
deviant or marginal groups
are
portrayed as responding rationally to oppressive forces of social definition and
reaction. The early radical criminology of this time saw itself as being free to be
partisan, to fight
back
against
the
forces
of
the
establishment.
Since this time, as Roshier describes it, the radical impulse behind this
resurrection
of
classicism has become disrupted and we
are
now left with the
mind-numbing overridingly practical concern with crime control
and
street
level
crime prevention programs.
Roshier's contribution is significant to those
of
us feeling
daunted
by New Right
law and order criminology.
He
re-explores
the
radical impulse, theoretically
and
in
terms
of
its practical implications. Theoreticallyhis analysis ischallenging in
the
way
he re-examines
the
foundations, fate
and
underdeveloped potential
of
much
of
the
classical modernist debate.
He
develops his argument into a
post
classical
perspective which, it
can
be argued, helps us
make
sense
of
many
of
the
findings
and
seeming contradictions
of
much criminological research into crime control.
Controlling
Crimeis
an
interesting, challenging read. Strongly recommended for a
general audience interested in matters criminological.
Melbourne
SHARON
MOORE
Deviance, Conformity
and
Control, Sharyn LRoach ADIeu, Longman Cheshire
(1991) 241 pp, $19.99.
This book begins with a discussion of a range
of
non-sociological approaches to the
study
of
deviance; an effective way to highlight
the
distinctive contribution
sociologists make to
the
understanding of
the
social construction
and
response to
deviance.
The
author
then
presents asummary of the classic
literature
written by
sociologists working within
the
normative, labelling, political economy
and
feminist
sociological perspectives. An examination
of
the
feminist perspective, excluded in so
many texts of this type, is to be welcomed.
The
following
chapter
presents
acritical
examination
of
the role
of
moral
entrepreneurs
in
the
criminalisation
of
"victimless
crimes" such as homosexuality, abortion, prostitution and drug
and
alcohol use.
Chapters examining
three
major institutions
of
social control:
the
criminaljustice
system,
the
medical system
and
the
welfare system
are
included.
The
author
summarises
current
sociological theory
and
research regarding
the
ways in which
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