NCJ Number
47014
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
CAPITALIST AND SOCIALIST SOCIOECONOMIC STRUCTURES ARE COMPARED IN THEIR EFFECTS UPON MARGINALIZATION, UNEVEN DEVELOPMENT, AND DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
THE COMPETITIVE, PROFIT-MAXIMIZING SOCIOECONOMIC STRUCTURES OF CAPITALISM ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE A NECESSARILY DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT UPON THOSE WHOSE INTELLECTUAL AND OTHER MARKETABLE SKILLS ARE LOW. THE SOCIALIZING DYNAMICS OF THE FAMILY AND SCHOOL ARE BELIEVED TO BE GEARED TOWARD THE REPRODUCTION OF ECONOMICALLY VALUABLE SKILLS, THUS CREATING THE CONTEXT FOR THE ALIENATION AND CONSEQUENT ANARCHIC BEHAVIOR OF YOUTHS WHO CANNOT SUCCESSFULLY COMPETE AND ESTABLISH THEIR MARKETABLE WORTH WITHIN THE FAMILY, SCHOOL, AND ULTIMATELY THE EMPLOYMENT MARKET. IT IS INDICATED THAT SOCIAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS ARE LIMITED TO THE GOAL OF HELPING CLIENTS BECOME ACCOMMODATED TO THE CAPITALIST SOCIOECONOMIC SYSTEM, WHICH, BY NATURE, DISCRIMINATES AGAINST THOSE WITH LOW PRIORITY PROFIT-MAKING SKILLS. THE SOCIALIST SOCIOECONOMIC SYSTEM IS VIEWED AS MOST EFECTIVE IN REDUCING ALIENATION AND MARGINALIZATION OF YOUTH AS THE INTENT OF THE SYSTEM IS BELIEVED TO BE THAT OF DISTRIBUTING TO EACH ACCORDING TO HIS NEED RATHER THAN ACCORDING TO HIS PROFIT-MAKING SKILLS. THE LOW INCIDENCE OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY IN THE SOVIET UNION, CHINA, CUBA, AND THE GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC IS CITED AS PROOF OF THE MORE EFFECTIVE SOCIALIZING FUNCTIONS OF SOCIALIST SOCIETIES. THUS, IN CAPITALIST SOCIETIES, FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURAL CHANGE THAT STRIKES AT THE HEART OF THE REPRODUCTIVE PROCESS THAT SEEKS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFIT-MAKERS IS BELIEVED ESSENTIAL IF THE ROOT CAUSES OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR ARE TO BE ELIMINATED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)