Uniting Class, Race and Criticism Through the Study of Environmental Justice

The Critical Criminologist 1 Fall, 1998 Volume 9 #1 Newsletter of ASC’s Division on Critical Criminology Uniting Class, Race and Criticism Through the Study of Environmental Justice Michael J. Lynch 1997). This argument, when combined with the historical shift to University of South Florida both critical/Frankfurt and post-modern approaches, has lead to a declining interest in class analysis and Marxian interpretation and among critical criminologists. And while it is important for us to emphasize that the movement away from class-only analysis has Paul B. Stretesky produced positive contributions, such as increased attention to Rochester Institute of Technology matters concerning race and gender, and the discovery of new explanatory perspectives and problems for analysis, it is also the The call for increased attention to race-specific theory case that a simultaneous decline in critical class-based analysis and explanation within critical criminology has been widely has occurred. This neglect has resulted in the underdevelopment articulated over the past several years (e.g., MacLean and of class-based analyses and a more general loss of a unified Milovanovic 1990; Schwartz and Milovanovic 1996; Lynch and direction within critical criminology. It is important, then, that Patterson 1991, 1996). More recently, Pavlich (1997) challenged we recognize that the diversification of a critical criminology has critical criminologists to revive the role of criticism by refocusing occurred primarily at the expense of class-based analysis. attention on broader questions of grounded action that establish The decline of Marxian class-based analysis is a social justice (see Arrigo 1999). In Pavlich’s (1997:1) view, problem that extends well beyond the disciplines of criminology grounded action necessitates that specific attention be given to and criminal justice into a number of other social-science the “plight of the oppressed.” In this article, we look at the issue disciplines. However, in the case of criminology and criminal of environmental justice to illustrate how critical criminologists justice, the decline of a class-based analysis is a highly significant can unite race-inclusive theory and criticism. We focus on trend, especially since class is a defining characteristic of both environmental justice for four reasons. First, it addresses the crime and justice (Reiman 1998). In short, we agree with James plight of the oppressed as suggested in Pavlich’s recent remarks. O’Connor (1998:1) who recently observed: Second, environmental justice centers on two forms of systematic [J]ust at the moment [in history] when world oppression: race and class. Third, criticism is a central feature of economy simulates the model . Marx developed environmental justice studies, and both race and class criticism in Capital, Marxism is dismissed as totally flawed, serve as the basis for understanding and acting against a failed enterprise . .All the identity politics and environmental injustice. Finally, the issue of environmental politics of place in the world cannot conceal the justice often is presented in the literature as either a race or a fact that global labor is being battered by an class-based analytic perspective. As we argue below, a unified unprecedented attack on living standards. race-class view is necessary for developing a more complete With respect to Pavlich’s (1997) conclusions concerning the understanding of and response to environmental injustice. decline of criticism in critical criminology, we note that Marx’s We begin our discussion by addressing the importance class model is inherently oriented toward criticism--especially of class. This discussion highlights our preference for grafting forms of criticism that are action-based (praxis-oriented). Also race onto a class-anchored perspective (see Lynch 1996). Still, noteworthy to our argument is the emphasis on criticism and we respect alternative viewpoints and fully recognize that action evident in current global environmental movements aimed selecting either class or race as the origin for an analysis is a at achieving environmental justice (e.g., the Green Environmental personal preference. and the Red-Green movements; see generally, O’Connor 1998:225-340; within criminology see, Lynch 1990; Frank and The Declining Significance of Class and Marx Lynch 1992, Chapter 6, on “Green Criminology”). Many of Over the past decade, several criminologists have argued these movements have a working class basis, and target working that critical criminology needs to be more inclusive of theories class issues such as non-toxic workplace environments, green and issues that deal with race and gender (e.g., Daly 1994; production techniques and environmental injustice in working Schwartz and Milovanovic 1996; Messerschmidt 1986, 1993, (Continued on page 4) 2 The Critical Criminologist remained at $5.00 for the journal and this newsletter, which given From the Editors... a 3% average inflation over the period, means we are actually paying the equivalent of $3.50 a year at 1988 prices!!!. Part of our response to this fiscal crisis can be seen in our invitation for This issue of The Critical Criminologist celebrates a you to make a tax deductible "donation" (See the flyer on how in significant milestone in critical criminology. It comes at a time this issue). when mainstream criminology, symbolized by the ASC, We have also seen a turnaround from the time when CC celebrates its 50th year. Yet our significant presence in this editors hustled for articles, to our present state of abundance organization demonstrates that critical criminological scholarship where articles arrive without our prompting, and do so in a is alive and vibrant, evidenced by its 10th year as an ASC continuing dialogue with those we published in previous division. Along with contributions from the Division of Women volumes. We thank you for that and for all those who have and Crime and the Division of People of Color and Crime, is our encouraged others to think of the newsletter as an outlet for unending attention to focus on class, race and gender as major nascent ideas. We already have articles in for the next issue. structural dimensions constituting crime. On the eve of the Keep it going! millenium our important contribution to criminological In this issue, we continue the critical tradition of scholarship is becoming increasingly visible. The winner of this confronting crimes of the powerful from a class/race perspective year's Thorsten Sellin and Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck Award is through Michael Lynch and Paul Stretesky's response to George one of the founding critical criminologists, Jock Young, who also Pavlich's challenge to reinvigorate the critical. They invite us not received acclaim this year as the most cited critical criminologist to conflate class with race but to see each as mutually constitutive in the world in a survey of critical criminological scholarship in the framing of the environmental victimization caused by published in the Journal of Criminal Justice Education (see powerful corporations. Powerful corporations are also the main Paul's summary of the article in this issue). Among the ASC criminal actor in the article by Ronald Burns who takes up Matt Fellows to be inducted this year are Margaret Zahn and John Robinson's invitation for criminologists to push the Braithwaite, both friends of critical criminological thinking, if not criminological envelope into the area of "non-crimes." Burns always of critical criminologists! focuses on the continued and systematic history of harms For their own continued contribution our 250+ division perpetuated by the automobile industry and, in the tradition of members deserve congratulations; we have accomplished much. critical theorists Schwendinger and Schwendinger, Michalowski, In spite of some rough times, we've survived. As this editorial Tifft, Henry and Milovanovic, urges us to broaden our definition collective begins its second year and volume 9 of what has of crime to the power-harm nexus. Finally, Bernard Headley, a become much more than a newsletter goes to press, we are founding editor of this newsletter, takes us to Russia and the pleased to say, that we have seen a major turn around. We are Ukraine in his report on their transformational process and the subscribed to by more than one European bibliographic service, resignation that most ordinary Russians feel toward the general have maintained a strong if changing membership, and continue impoverishment of their society relative to its Soviet past. His to provide our members with more for less, though this has article is a sobering reminder of the crudity of capitalism's created somewhat of a fiscal crisis. The financial hemorrhaging capacity to polarize through inequality under the guise of this has caused will hopefully be corrected at the upcoming DC "freedom." Clearly the struggle continues. See you on the streets meetings as the "$10 dues" fee is discussed--the dues have of D.C. The next edition of the newsletter will be out in March of 1999. <[email protected]> We welcome articles, poetry and letters. Please send a hard copy and diskette version, no longer than 2,500 words (to offer room The Critical Criminology Homepage is maintained by Jim for many voices) and specify the software/word processing Thomas. It contains more information about the division along software being used. We ask that references be in the (Author with links to a wide variety of data, current statistics, legal Date: Page) format with minimal use of endnotes. Conversations resources, political writings, teaching and mentoring information, or less formal non-referenced articles are also acceptable, but we and the Division’s parent organization — The American Society expect that they will still represent polished final manuscripts that of Criminology. have been subjected to spell check and proofreading. http://sun.soci.niu.edu/~critcrim/ Stuart Henry can now be reached at the Department of Sociology Division membership is available through Sarah Hall at the Huegli Hall, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN 46383.

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