(for further info please contact Andrea Beckman at
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The European Group for the Study of Deviance and Social Control
29th Annual Conference
Venice, Italy
September 6-9, 2001
THE AMBIVALENCE OF CONFLICTS AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Conflict is inherent in all societies. Recent protest shows that this
is also the case when, with the final victory of market economies, as
it is claimed, history has come to an end.
Within the critical criminological tradition, conflict also underlies a
range of individual and collective acts described by institutional
agencies as deviant. Processes of labeling and stigmatisation are
themselves part and parcel of social conflict and contrasting
interests.
Whether occurring within the criminal justice arena or in society at
large, conflicts possess an ambivalent nature , whereby they can bring
about progressive social change and/or reinforce the status quo. In
other words, some conflicts may be functional to the maintenance and
reproduction of power relations, others may defy them, and yet others
may generate regression.
Varying degrees of ambivalence are found, for example, in: conflicts in
the labour and global markets, action by ecologists and minorities,
movements for the defence of locality, consumer pressure groups, and
groups claiming safer living environments with a variety of strategies
and tools.
Social groups do use the criminal justice system, through which they
pursue their interests. On the other hand, law enforcement processes
are triggered by the victimisation of vulnerable groups and individuals.
How can critical criminology respond to the demand from vulnerable
people for safety? How should progressive reformers deal with requests
for law and order? How can we reconcile penal abolitionism with the
need to protect women and children from violence? How can we achieve
the prosecution and punishment of powerful offenders , and
simultaneously the reduction of penality?
Papers are encouraged on the above themes. In particular:
Ø Dealing with racism
Ø Fighting discrimination in labour markets
Ø Responding to interpersonal violence
Ø Regulating corporate conduct
Ø Controlling youth
Ø Coping with transnational crime
Ø Engendering safety
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C Pantazis, School Policy Studies
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Centre for the study of social exclusion and social justice
School for Policy Studies
University of Bristol
8 Priory Road
Bristol
BS8 ITZ
Telephone: (0117) 9546766
Fax: (0117) 9546756
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