Citation

Zimring FE, Johnson DT. Br. J. Criminol. 2005; 45(6): 793-809.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/bjc/azi042

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This essay has two ambitions. The first is to show that a transnational comparative perspective can be of value in identifying topics worth studying in criminology and criminal law, as well as an important method of conducting such studies. The second aim is to use the comparative perspective and method to explore the topic of corruption a pervasively important and distinctive behavioural phenomenon that is of critical importance in both developing and developed nations. A comparative perspective on corruption provides insight about the role of this peculiar form of crime in various cultures and stages of development. Moreover, we also believe that a focus on corruption as a special category of crime helps to explain the passions and politics that have been involved in discourse on white-collar crime. We begin our tour with a plea for the increasing value of comparative study as a tool for criminological agenda setting and research. A brief second section defines corruption as a special subcategory of criminal behaviour defined as the unlawful use of power. A third section then speculates on the relationship between corruption and features of social and governmental organization. A final section applies this comparative perspective to some longstanding issues in criminological discourse. We show that the same mix of condemnation and imprecision that has frustrated efforts to define white-collar crime produces ambiguity in the definition of corruption. We also suggest that the core focus of our criminology of corruption-the use of power as an instrument of crime also helps to explain why white-collar crime has evoked concern, particularly among criminologists on the left. The unifying substantive theme in this analysis is the view of corruption as the criminal misuse of power.

Language: en