NCJ Number
6185
Journal
ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGY Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (WINTER 1971) Pages: 1-31
Date Published
1971
Length
31 pages
Annotation
POLITICAL SYSTEMS, BY THE NATURE OF THE STRUCTURAL RELATIONS SUPPORTING THEM, DO HAVE THE POTENTIAL CAUSE AND RESOURCES FOR REPRESSION.
Abstract
HOW AND WHY THE REPRESSION RESOURCE CAN BE ANIMATED HAS BEEN THE CENTER OF ATTENTION OF THIS STUDY. THE FORCES OF CONTROL DO NOT NEED TO BE EXPLOITED BY THE STATE AT ALL TIMES. IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR THE STATE TO CONCERN ITSELF SYSTEMATICALLY WITH THE REPRESSIVE QUASHING OF BEHAVIOR UNTIL IT FEELS ITS ESTABLISHED EXISTENCE IS THREATENED AND UNTIL THE ALTERNATIVES FOR ORDER ARE DRAWN SO NARROWLY THAT NO OTHER COURSE SEEMS FEASIBLE AND OR DESIRABLE TO THE ELITE. ONE CANNOT BE CERTAIN THAT A STATE COURSE OF ACTION IS REPRESSIVE UNTIL ONE IS ABLE TO OBSERVE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING - A TUMULTUOUS POPULAR MOVEMENT REVITALIZING ITS OWN CLAIM TO RULE, A DEFINITIVE SEIZURE AND ENTRENCHMENT OF POWER BY THE ELITE, A PERMANENT REDEFINITION OF POLITICAL INTENT AND RULE OF LAW MADE BY CONSENT, OR THE JAILS AND MORGUES FILLED WITH THE POLITICALLY DISCONTENTED. AUTHOR ABSTRACT