As politicians and the media perpetuate the stereotype of the "common criminal," crimes committed by the powerful remain for the most part invisible, or are reframed as a "bad decision" or a "rare mistake." This is a topic that remains marginalized within the field of criminology and criminal justice, yet crimes of the powerful cause more harm, perpetuate more inequalities, and result in more victimization than street crimes.

Crimes of the Powerful: An introduction is the first textbook to bring together and show the symbiotic relationships between the related fields of state crime, white-collar crime, corporate crime, financial crime, organized crime, and environmental crime. Dawn L. Rothe and David Kauzlarich introduce the many types of crimes, methodological issues associated with research, theoretical relevance, and issues surrounding regulations and social controls for crimes of the powerful. Themes covered include:

• media, culture, and the Hollywoodization of crimes of the powerful;
• theoretical understanding and the study of the crimes of the powerful;
• a typology of crimes of the powerful with examples and case studies;
• victims of the crimes of the powerful;
• the regulation and resistance of elite crime.

An ideal introductory text for both undergraduate and postgraduate students taking modules on the crimes of the powerful, white-collar crime, state crime, and green criminology, this text includes chapter summaries, activities and discussion questions, and lists of additional resources including films, websites, and additional readings.

About the Author
Dawn L. Rothe is Professor of Criminology at Old Dominion University, USA, the Director of the International State Crime Research Center and of the PhD in Criminology Program at Old Dominion University. She is the author or co-author of eight books and over seven dozen peer reviewed articles and book chapters, some of which have been reproduced and translated into Italian, Spanish, and Chinese. She has formerly served as Chair of the American Society of Criminology Division of Critical Criminology. David Kauzlarich is Professor of Sociology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, USA, and Editor-in-Chief of Critical Criminology: An International Journal. He is widely published in the areas of state crime, criminological theory, and resistance to crimes of the powerful.

Reviews

"The field of criminology has always focused principally upon the crimes of the powerless. There is overwhelming evidence that far more harm is associated with the crimes of the powerful. This book is to my knowledge the very first textbook that systematically addresses the crimes of the powerful. The authors are long-standing and highly-regarded criminological students of the crimes of the powerful. They have here produced a comprehensive survey of what contemporary criminology and criminal justice students need to know about such crimes. All reputable criminology and criminal justice programs should offer a course on crimes of the powerful, if they do not already do so. Instructors of such a course make a wise choice if they choose to assign this accessible, provocative textbook. It addresses the most consequential types of crimes, and initiatives to control such crimes."

David O. Friedrichs, Distinguished Professor, Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice & Criminology, University of Scranton, USA

"Confronting the powerful is confronting - especially when the crimes, harms, threats and risks produced by the powerful are seen as simply a 'natural' part of everyday life. This book challenges this status quo by exposing the crimes of the powerful to systematic critical scrutiny, thereby demonstrating that these elite activities far outweigh conventional crimes in their damaging social, economic and ecological impacts. The entrenchment of general misery is socially constructed by the powerful, in the interests of the powerful. This book explains why this is the case, and what can be done about it. A must read."

Rob White, Professor of Criminology, University of Tasmania, Australia

"Theoretically astute, empirically rich, global in scope and always student-oriented, this passionate yet considered text is a significant contribution for those who seek to mainstream the crimes of the powerful in the teaching and learning of criminology. This is not just a superb book about power and the powerful - but represents a thoroughgoing challenge to them."

Steve Tombs, Professor, Head of Social Policy & Criminology at the Open University and Director of the International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research, UK

"This outstanding book shines a bright light into the dark area of the crimes of the powerful, a darkness that too few criminology and criminal justice students ever get to explore. Rothe and Kauzlarich do an excellent job of introducing students to the study of the criminal acts of the powerful, illuminating a form of criminality that inflicts the most harm and fills the world with death and devastation, misery and want."

Ronald C. Kramer, Professor of Sociology, Western Michigan University, USA

"Rothe and Kauzlarich provide a thorough and meticulous guide to the 'Crimes of the Powerful'. Unlike many textbooks this is an impassioned and engaging introduction. A 'must have' text for any criminology student!"

Simon Pemberton, Birmingham Fellow, School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham, UK

"Crimes of the Powerful: An Introduction is a great resource for students who want to research white-collar crime on an entirely new level, where the most serious types of white-collar crime take place, within networks of governments, corporations and financial institutions. The myriad of examples of crimes of the powerful the authors provide throughout the book thus become a springboard for research for the novice and expert, alike. By offering new definitions of 'white-collar crime' from the neo-liberal capitalist perspective, the authors successfully make a distinction between what is generally viewed as 'white-collar crime' and 'crimes of the powerful'."

Becky Nash, California State University Long Beach, USA, Global Crime

Book Information
ISBN 9781138797949
Author Dawn Rothe
Format Paperback
Page Count 278
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 385g