Analysis of How Criminology Can Engage in the Theorizing on Genocide Article by William R. Pruitt - Assignment Example

 Article summary and Analysis ‘How Criminology Can Engage in the Theorizing on Genocide by William R. Pruitt Purpose of the article William has identified a loophole in the field of criminology in that it failed to address the crime of genocide adequately. Criminology departments have failed to provide any theoretical foundation in support of crimes related to genocide. Criminology is a vast discipline, but it has failed to come up with any theories that can be used to handle genocide crimes. The author aim is to provide viable ways that the criminology discipline can use in order to come up with genocide theories. He discovered that the discipline has concentrated more on crimes theories for organizations, state, collective violence than the crime of genocide that has potential threats in. By the end of the article, William manages to call the criminology industry to theattention and try to delve more into genocide-related theory and research methods. Moreover, the existing insights about genocide crimes have been leftunattended, and it has resulted to speculation. William refers genocide as acrime of crimes. The same way criminology has come up with ideas on state, organizational and collective, it will be an avenuefor theorizing genocide. Williams delves into the criminal theorization work compiledby Brannigan and Hardwick (2003) and building on the existing theories of crime. He also focuses on coming up with collective theory from what other authors have theorized around state, organizational and collective violence crimes. He comes up with a modification and viable recommendations that the criminology discipline can use to address genocide. Method In aneffort to provide suggestions for theorizing genocide in criminology, William uses a number of theories.First, he addresses the existing understanding of collective violence, state and organizational crimes. Criminology has built in-depth insight into such aspects but has failed to analyze genocide. Mob violence, gangs, state officials and individuals or groups who engage in genocide activities are persuaded by goals and objectives of their affiliations. Individual choices translate to decisions of the larger organizations. Secondly, he utilizes the criminological theorization of genocide done by Brannigan and Hardwick (2003). The authors looked into the general theory of crime by Gottfredson and Hirsch and related it to genocide. The authors identified the weakness of the general theory where it failed to affirm that genocide is one of the aspects of crime. William uses the idea of genocide as an act of low self-control as proposed by Brannigan and Hardwick. However, he points out that they fail to ascertain that self-control is synonymous with vulnerability and defenselessness in the process of carrying out genocide. The theory provides an opening through the element of self-control that criminology can use to coin theories of genocide. Analysis: Theories and concepts William knows that to understand the concept of genocide; one must build up from what they already know about crimes. His conceptual explanation kicks off with a definition of state crime, organization and violence crimes.He refers to Chamblis(1984) definition of crimes as the unlawful acts committed by state officials when assuming or pursuing state jobs. The act could result into violation of human rights, and harm social and economic fabrics of the larger society. Since no state can exclude itself from crime, genocide can be perpetuated by state officials in the name of carrying out state tasks. William focuses on organizational crime because it is carried out by powerful people. Individualsuse the authority vested on them by their organizations. They take cover in goals and objectives of that formal organization resulting into serious crimes. The distinct actions of an individual or group of people affiliated to a certain organization may result into adverse harm to consumers, employees and the general masses. William concludes that theorganization can be used to carry out genocide acts when individuals act on behalf of organizations they represent. He asserts the Rwandan and Herero genocides happened through reputable individuals in those countries. He further confirms that theorizing genocide can be based on the existing theory of collective violence. Permanent or transitory members of the group can induce genocide acts in the quest of pursuing political, economic and social objectives. Genocide can be done in the form of gangs and mob justice and can result to death of thousands of people. The conceptual tools of state, collective violence and corporate crimes provide a platform for theorizing genocide. William looks into the collective theory of genocide by Hagan and Rymond-Richmond (2009). He uses collective theory of genocide to puttingtogether the ideas of state, collective violence and corporate crimes. He identifies that for genocide to occur, there must be socially constructed groups, shared intent, individualization and state. State plays a role in the perpetration of genocide by failing to devise watertight mechanisms to protect citizens. William Putting States on the Spotlight for Genocide Is On Point Based on the theories mentioned, William links states and genocide. He alludes to Brants (2006) claim that genocide does not take place without the knowledge of the state. It is implicated further if it practices democracy to govern its people. The author also says that democracy increases the chances of genocide because people are guided by free will. Diverse states face the risk of genocide more than nations that are homogenous. Such as state will often have inferior and superior races, ethnicities, religions, and tribes. It becomes easier for genocide criminals to carry out attacks to such groups because they stand out from each other. Isolation and individualization take courses resulting into violence. William believes that violence between groups occurs when there is fierce competition between them. Modifications That William Suggests In His Article In order to address genocide in the discipline of criminology, it is essential to look at the broad issues of genocide beyond racial, ethnic or religion divides. Collective theory of genocide is applicable if it addresses all aspects that pertain to genocide. Research can look into races, ethnicity, religion and nationality. The theory can also be broadened to encompass criminology literature related to crimes against masses. William affirms that state ideology and practice of democracy may contribute to genocide, but its analysis should not shut social and political pressures that persuade government officials. Theorizing genocide in the field of criminology would suffice if study focused on the existing theories and delve more into law, sociology, and political science details in books. Designing a theoretical framework for genocide in criminology starts by concerned bodies learning from literature written on criminology, which is accompanied by implementing unique ideas to define genocide just like other aspects of criminology. Results and Conclusions William sums up his article by noting that there is a catalyst in all genocide activities. However, ignorance criminology has failed to give the catalysts a particular label. Internal wars or regime collapse contributed to genocide wars after Second World War; hence, it is imperative to conclude that crisis lead to genocide. The author found that elements such as anational crisis, mass revolution, civil war and failing nations as some of the probable causes for genocide. The theories and concepts he has addressed in his analysis have failed to point out explicitly. Any genocide an activity has a catalyst. The article suggests extrapolation of Hagan and Rymond-Richmond’s collective theory of genocide as a convenient avenue for criminology to address theorizing genocide. It can be expounded to encompass what people already know about genocide. The existing dimensions in the discipline of criminology provide an excellent platform without the need to start from scratch. References Pruitt, W. (2014). How Criminology can engage in the Theorizing on Genocide?International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences, 9(1). Read More