Economic system produces “problem populations”

Marx: MP RP “superstructure”◦ Family, religion, education, the state

Law◦ Reproduce & Legitimate

“Contradictions”◦ Reduce labor cost◦ Labor also consumer

Who is deviant?◦ Threats to economic system◦ State involvement◦ Size and threat of group◦ Degree of organization of group◦ Can traditional "reproduction" help?◦ Alternatives available◦ Other/additional uses

Steven Spitzer◦ Two problem populations

Social “junk” Social “dynamite”

◦ Two means of control Administrative Criminal/Legal

Not Troublesome, Not Troublesome, Not Needed (Social Not Needed (Social “Junk”)“Junk”)

Do not, will not, Do not, will not, cannot contributecannot contribute

Poor, elderly, Poor, elderly, impairedimpairedExpensive, harmlessExpensive, harmlessAdministrative Administrative ControlControl

Troublesome, Not Troublesome, Not Needed (“Social Needed (“Social Dynamite”)Dynamite”)

Excluded from Excluded from systemsystem

Unemployed, young, Unemployed, young, laid offlaid offExpensive, Expensive, dangerousdangerousLegal ControlLegal Control

Alternatives to state control◦ Do nothing◦ Conversion◦ Geographical segregation◦ Unofficial tolerance of organized crime◦ Privatization

Problems◦ Overstates class conflict◦ Conspiracy mentality

Strengths◦ Expands range of considerations◦ Forces debate

Important Considerations◦ Cause and Nature of Deviance: economic system

vs. "deviants" Social control (like labeling) is a problem

◦ Solution = change economic system