State Crime

What is state crime?

illegal or deviant activities committed by, or with the support of, state agencies to protect or advance state interests (Green & Ward)

Why are state crimes among the most serious forms of crime?

they involve powerful institutions capable of causing harm on a massive scale

Why does the state have the power to conceal crime?

it creates laws, enforces laws, and prosecutes offenders

How can states avoid punishment for their crimes?

• concealing crimes

• refusing to prosecute officials

• not defining harmful actions as crimes

Why is it difficult for external organisations to intervene in state crime?

the principle of national sovereignty gives states authority within their own borders

What 4 categories of state crime does McLaughlin identify?

• political crimes

• crimes by security and police forces

• economic crimes

• social and cultural crimes

What are some examples of political crimes?

• imprisonment or execution of opponents without trial

• censorship

• surveillance

• corruption

What are some examples of crimes by security and police forces?

• war crimes

• genocide

• ethnic cleansing

• torture

• civilian massacres

• illegal weapons use

What are some examples of economic crimes?

• theft of public funds

• corruption and bribery of state officials

• health and safety violations

What are some examples of social and cultural crimes?

• failures to protect human rights

• failure to address racism and discrimination

What happened during the Rwandan genocide in 1994?

• the Hutu-led government encouraged violence against Tutsis

• around 800,000 people were killed in 100 days

Why are the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq often criticised as state crimes?

many argue they did not meet international legal requirements for war

How does Chambliss define state crime?

acts defined as criminal by law and committed by state officials in their official role

What is a criticism of defining state crime using domestic law?

states can avoid criminalising their own harmful behaviour

How do Rothe & Mullins define state crime?

any action by or on behalf of a state that violates domestic or international law

What are some criticisms of using international law to define state crime?

• powerful states often avoid accountability

• enforcement is inconsistent

How does Michalowski define state crime?

acts that cause harm even if they are not illegal

What is zemiology?

the study of harms whether or not they are legally defined as crimes

How do Schwendinger & Schwendinger define state crime?

violations of human rights such as torture, slavery, racism, and exploitation

What is a criticism of defining state crime through human rights?

not all human rights abuses are clearly criminal (Cohen)

What is the authoritarian personality theory?

some people are more likely to obey authority because of strict and punitive socialisation (Adorno et al.)

What criticism is made of the authoritarian personality explanation?

perpetrators are often psychologically similar to ordinary people

What are crimes of obedience?

crimes committed when people obey authority without questioning orders (Kelman & Hamilton)

What 3 factors explain crimes of obedience (Kelman & Hamilton)?

• authorisation

• dehumanisation

• routinisation

What is authorisation?

people replace personal morality with obedience to authority

What is dehumanisation?

victims are portrayed as less than human so moral rules no longer apply

What is routinisation?

atrocities become routine bureaucratic tasks

How does Bauman explain state crime?

features of modern society make large-scale atrocities possible

What features of modernity made the Holocaust possible according to Bauman?

• division of labour

• bureaucratisation

• instrumental rationality

• science and technology

What are some strengths of research into state crime?

• shows state crimes are organised and planned

• highlights the role of institutions

• exposes state abuses of power

Why is state crime difficult to research?

governments often hide evidence, restrict information, and suppress opposition

How do states deny or justify their crimes (Cohen)?

• denying responsibility

• describing harm as necessary for national security

Why does the Rwandan genocide challenge Bauman's explanation?

it relied heavily on direct violence by civilians rather than bureaucracy and division of labour