Citation

McVeigh R. Am. J. Sociol. 2006; 112(2): 510-566.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/506414

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

By applying and extending the logic of Peter Blau's theory of social structure, this article identifies structural features of U.S. counties that are associated with high levels of crime, the presence of activist organizations as ideologically diverse as civil rights organizations and antiabortion groups, and low levels of voter turnout. Key empirical findings include positive effects of ethnic heterogeneity, religious heterogeneity, and income inequality on both the crime rate and the number of activist organizations in counties. Educational inequality diminishes the positive effect of income inequality on activism and has a strong negative effect on the crime rate. Many structural conditions associated with high numbers of activist organizations and a high crime rate decrease voter turnout rates.