GANGS, POLITICS, AND THE SOCIAL ORDER (FROM DELINQUENCY, CRIME, AND SOCIETY, 1976, BY J F SHORT, JR - SEE NCJ-37976)

• NCJ Number: 37980
• Author(s): J F SHORT
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 45 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PAPER ANALYZES FIVE CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL TRENDS AND THEIR RELATION TO THE NATURE OF GANGS DURING THE 1960'S, POLITICAL REALITIES, AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH RELATING THE TWO.

Abstract

THE FIVE TRENDS CONSIDERED ARE THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT; THE YOUTH MOVEMENT; THE REVITALIZATION OF PLURALISM AND OF PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY; THE INCREASINGLY POLITICAL NATURE OF SOCIAL ISSUES AND 'SOCIAL PROBLEMS'; AND RAPID SOCIAL CHANGE. STRESSED IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE EXTERNAL FORCES OF CHANGE IN PUBLICLY DEFINING THE NATURE OF THE 'GANG PROBLEM', IN SHAPING PUBLIC RESPONSE, AND IN CREATING A SOCIAL CONTEXT CONDUCIVE TO THE CREATION AND POLITICIZATION OF 'SUPERGANGS'. ALSO EXAMINED ARE GANG ATTEMPTS AND FAILURES TO ACHIEVE LEGITIMATE IDENTITIES AND ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENT. SIX PAGES OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.