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    Max Weber, Conflict Theory, and Crime

    Number of Pages: 8

     

    Summary of the research paper:

    In eight pages crime is examined within the context of the conflict theory articulated by Max Weber. Five sources are cited in the bibliography.

    Name of Research Paper File: LM1_TLCWebCr.rtf

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    Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
    than to control and manipulate the masses, with the ruling classes employing the entire legal structure for their own benefit. According to Webers classical perspective, the implementation of law  upon an otherwise homogenous society has created conflict where it once did not exist. His claim asserts that certain populations have historically been in control of said laws, leaving  the vast majority to follow in the minoritys lead. Webers theory states that radical thought and the comprehension of law must go hand in hand if one is to  truly understand how dominating the current legal system actually is. The fundamental basis upon which Webers stance on crime is founded illustrates how: * Acts are defined as  criminal because it is in the interests of the ruling class to so define them. * Members of the ruling class will be able to violate the laws with  impunity while members of the subject classes will be punished. * Persons are labeled criminal because it is in the interests of the ruling class to so label them,  whether or not the behavior would be tolerated by "the society" at large. * The lower classes are more likely to be labeled criminal because the bourgeoisies control of  the state protects them from such stigmatization. * As capitalist societies industrialize and the gap between the bourgeoisie and proletariat widens, penal law will expand in an effort to  coerce the proletariat into submission (Chambliss, 1974, p. PG). Webers conflict theory relates directly to early law as it existed in the  Roman period, which brought with it a time of strife when it came to the legal connotation and what it was supposed to represent. Indeed, the Romans were at 

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