Citation

Willis CL, Evans TD, LaGrange RL. J. Crim. Justice 1999; 27(3): 227-238.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0047-2352(98)00061-0

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Comparative criminology continues to develop at an accelerated pace. Today, cross-national empirical studies of crime are quite common and comparative theories of crime, such as the Durkheimian-modernization theory, Marxian World Systems/Dependency theory, and ecological opportunity theory have been formulated. There also have been several cross-national analyses of American theories of crime, yet very little attention has been given to theoretical developments unique to the historical, cultural, and social structural characteristics of lesser known societies. The central thesis of this article is that criminology can benefit from the theories and concepts formulated outside the United States. The purpose of this article was to examine theoretical developments and concepts indigenous to various societies and to compare them with theories prevalent in American criminology. The benefits of integrating non-American theories and concepts with dominant American theories of crime are discussed.