[ features ] A RADICAL GROUNDING FOR SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION THEORY: A POLITICAL ECONOMIC INVESTIGATION OF THE CAUSES OF POVERTY, INEQUALITY AND CRIME IN URBAN AREAS MICHAEL LYNCH & LYNDSAY N. BOGGESS his article !a"in s s$ cific &'s r(ati&#s T a'&)t crim $r&*)c * '+ s&cial dis&rga- #izatio# th &r+ /SDT0 r lat * t& th r latio#- ship ' t1 # )r'a# $&( rt+, i# 2)alit+ a#* crim , 3r&" th $ rs$ ctiv &3 radical crimi- #&logical. As 1 #&t ' lo1, th * ( lo$" #t &3 radical crimi#&logical !$la#atio#s &3 crim #t r * a stat &3 *&r"a#c+ '+ th 5667s at th sa" tim that incr as * att #- tio# 1as ' in, $aid t& !$a#din, critical al- t r#ati( s t& th kinds &3 class-'as * a#* $&- litical c&#&"ic a$$r&ach s $r 3 rr * '+ ra*- ical crimin&logists i# &th r *isciplin s4 Sinc 5667, that t #* #c+ t& sh+ a1a+ 3r&" class a#* $&litical c&#&"ic a#al+sis has als& $r&- 11 12| RADICAL CRIMINOLOGY (ISSN 1929-7904) *)c * a lac8 &3 critical in( stigatio# &3 &rth&- *&! th &ries &3 crim a#* th a(&ida#c &3 class-'as * critiq) s &3 th&s th &ries4 9hile this &'s r(atio# a$$lies t& all c&#t "$&rar+ &rth&*&! th &ries / 4,4, th r has ' # limit * &r #& radical critiq) &3 lif -c&)rs th &r+ :3&r a# !c $tio# s L+#ch 566;<, s lf-c&#tr&l th &r+, * ( lo$" #tal th &ries, , # ral th &- ries :3&r a# !c $ti&# s , L+#ch a#* Gr&( s, 566=<0, it is als& a$$lica'le t& th c&#tin) * * ( lo$" #t &3 a critiq) &3 s&cial dis&rga#i- zatio# th &ries &3 crim (L+#ch a#* Gr&( s 56>;? L+#ch a#d Michalo1ski @77;04 I# lin 1ith th a'&( &'s r(atio#s, th ar- ,)" #t ' lo1 !a"in s h&1 radical crimi#&- logical th &r+ ca# ' )s * t& critiq) a#* !- t #* th ass)"$tio#s &3 SDT in 1a+s that ar c&#sist #t 1ith a $&litical c&#&"ic a#al+sis &3 th r latio#ship ' t1 # crim , $&( rt+ a#* in 2)alit+4 O3 $artic)lar c&#c r# i# this a#al+sis is a# !$lorati&# &3 th ass&ciati&# ' t1 # $&( rt+, i# 2)alit+ a#* crim $&sit * '+ s&cial dis&rga#izatio# th &r+, 1hich "arks a )s 3)l startin, $&int 3&r a "&r radical a#al+sis &3 th s ass&ciatio#s4 Fr&" a radical $ rs$ cti( , SDT lacks a# a#al+sis &3 th &rigins a#* th *istrib)ti&# &3 $&( rt+ a#* i# 2)alit+ in )r'a# ar as4 That "issin, th &r tical * scriptio# ca# ' a*- dr ss * '+ th ass)"$tio#s inh r #t in $&liti- cal c&#&"ic a$$r&ach s )s * t& addr ss th $r&*)ctio# &3 crim 4 LYNCH & BOGGESS | RADICAL SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION THEORY |13 T& ' s)r , $&( rt+ a#* in 2)alit+ ar t1& &3 th "&r $ rsist #t c&rr lat s &3 crim in SDT r s arch, a#* th a'ilit+ &3 radical a$- $r&ach s t& !$lain th diff r #tial *istrib)- tio# &3 $&( rt+ a#* i# 2)alit+ in )r'a# la#*- sca$ sBa# iss) that SDT *& s #&t addr ss th &r ticall+, a#* rath r ' gins 1ith th !is- t #c &3 $&( rt+ a#* in 2)alit+B !t #ds &)r a'ilit+ t& c&#c $t)alize a#* )#* rsta#* h&1 ca$italis" $r&*)c s crim thr&)gh th int r- " diar+ a$$ ara#c &3 (isible s&cial a#* c&- #&"ic &)tc&" s s)ch as $&( rt+ a#* in 2)al- it+4 I# sh&rt, th 3&c)s &3 this 1&r8 is !$lain- in, th " r, #c a#* distrib)tio# &3 $&( rt+ a#* i# 2)alit+ in ca$italist s&cieties, th ir tra#s3 r #c t& )r'a# s$ac , a#* th ir c&## ctio# t& crim 4 Th ,&al is t& radicalize s&cial dis&r,a#izatio# th &r+ a#* ca$t)r its "a#+ i#sights in 1a+s that ar c&#sist #t 1ith a radical !$la#atio# &3 crim 4 I# *&ing s&, 1 ar a'le t& ide#tif+ th 1a+s in 1hich radical crimin&lo,+ a#* SDT c&"$le" #t &# a#- &th r4 Th $rimar+ 3&c)s &3 a radical !t #sio# &3 SDT 3&c)s s &# $r&(idin, a $&litical c&- #&"ic !$la#atio# &3 th &rigins &3 $&( rt+ a#* in 2)alit+4 SDT ' gins 1ith a# ass)"$- tio# that in a#+ s&ciet+, $&( rt+ a#* in 2)al- it+ !ists, a#* that th s s&cial 3act&rs ar *is- trib)t * )# 2)all+ 1ithi# )r'a# ar as4 9ith 3 1 !c $ti&#s /Sa"$s&# a#* 9ils&# 566=? Sa"$s&# @75@? 9ils&# 56>C), SDT *& s #&t &A r a# !$la#atio# &3 th , &gra$h+ &3 $&( rt+ a#* i# 2)alit+, a#* h #c ca##&t !- 14| RADICAL CRIMINOLOGY (ISSN 1929-7904) $lain why crim is distrib)t * th 1a+ that it is !c $t 1ith r 3 r #c t& th ass)" * )#- 2)al distrib)ti&# &3 $&( rt+ a#* in 2)alit+4 Radical !$la#ati&#s ca# * $ # th ar,)- " #ts &3 SDT '+ illustratin, h&1 $&( rt+ a#* in 2)alit+ ar $r&*)c * a#* *istrib)t * 1ithin ca$italist s+st "s &3 $r&*)ctio# a#* 1ithin )r'a# ar as i# 1a+s that ar c&#sist #t 1ith a#* r $r&*)c th str)ct)ral t #* #cies &3 ca$italist s+st "s t& $r&"&t in 2)alit+ a#* $r&*)c $&&r, c&#&"icall+ "arginal $&$)latio#s4 T& !$lor this iss) 3)rth r, 1 ' gi# 1ith &)r 'ac8gr&)#* ass)"$ti&#s a#* $r&(ide a*- ditio#al s)$$&rt 3&r th t+$ &3 ar,)" #t &3- 3 r * h r 4 I# th s ctio#s that 3&llo1, 1 r - (ie1 th , # ral ass)"$ti&#s &3 SDT a#* its %#dings 1ith r s$ ct t& $&( rt+, i# 2)alit+ a#* crim 4 N !t, 1 ' gin &)r disc)ssio# &3 th radicalizati&# &3 SDT4 Finall+, 1 i#clu* a disc)ssio# &3 s&" &3 th limitatio#s &3 &)r ar,)" #t a#* s),, stio#s 3&r additio#al th - &r tical !$&sitio# &3 a radical $ rs$ ctiv &# s&cial dis&r,a#izatio#4 BACKGROUND Th radical traditio# in crimi#&lo,+, '+ 1hich 1 " a# th $r 3 r #c t& "$lo+ $&- litical c&#&"ic a#al+sis a#* str)ct)ral &rie#- tatio#s 3&r th a#al+sis &3 crim , la1 a#* D)s- tic , has ' # lar, l+ *&r"a#t i# th @5st c #- t)r+4 T& ' s)r , critical crimin&lo,+ 1hich inclu* s th &r tical a#al+sis &)tside &3 $&liti- LYNCH & BOGGESS | RADICAL SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION THEORY |15 cal c&#&"ic th &r+, has ra$idl+ !$a#* * i# r c #t * ca* s4 Ma#+ &3 th&s !$la#atio#s, h&1 ( r, &( rlo&8 th r le(a#c &3 $&litical c&#&"ic th &r+ 3&r !$lainin, crim , in- cluding, 3&r !a"$le, th * ca* lo#, * clin in crim (L+#ch @75E'), a#* inst a* ha( h lp * $r&"&t a c)lt)ral t)r# in crimin&l- &,+ (Farr ll, Ha+1ar* a#* Y&)#, @77>? F&# s @75E? s "&r , # rall+, Fa" s&# 566>04 EA&rts t& r " *+ th # glect &3 radical crimin&lo,+ a#* its $&litical c&#&"ic "- $hasis ha( ' # )#* rta8 # i# r c #t + ars4 I# additio# t& th c)rr #t D&)r#al, Radical Criminology, a r c #t iss) s &3 th Journal of Crime and Justice /@75E0 calls att #tio# t& $&lit- ical c&#&"ic !$la#atio#s a#* t& " rgin, !$la#ati&#s a#* &rie#tati&#s * sign * t& h lp r in(ig&rat radical crimin&lo,+ (Michalo1ski @75E? Gra" r @75E? L+#ch @75E'? Carls&# t al. @75E? Str t s8+ t al @75E? Barr tt @75E04 As #&t * i# articles i# th Journal of Crime and Justice (L+#ch @753a), th # gl ct as 1 ll as th critiq) &3 th radical crimin&logical a$$r&ach s a#* th $r 3 r #c 3&r class-'as * a#al+sis is ide&logicall+ sit)- at * in &rth&*&! crimin&logical ass)"$tio#s a'&)t th ca)s s &3 crim 4 Orth&*&! critics, 3&r !a"$le, ha( hist&ricall+ r D ct * th i#i- tial ass)"$ti&#s &3 radical !$la#ati&#s, c&"- $arin, th th &r tical ass)"$tio#s &3 radical !$la#ati&#s &3 crim a#* D)stic t& th *&c- trin &3 c&"")#ist stat s4 As a c&#s 2) #c , th&s critiq) s r D ct radical crimin&lo,+ '&th &)t &3 ha#* a#* ide&logicall+, a#* 3ail t& 16| RADICAL CRIMINOLOGY (ISSN 1929-7904) a$$r ciat th c&#trib)tio#s radical th &r+ ca# "a8 t& !$la#ati&#s &3 crim a#* D)s- tic 4 I# *&in, s&, a 1ide (ariet+ &3 &rth&*&! th &ries r D ct radical !$la#ati&#s &3 crim a#* D)stic 1ith&)t a th&r&)gh-,&in, a#al+sis &3 its ass)"$tio#s &r th r lat * "$irical r - s arch /s L+#ch, Sch1 #din, r a#* Sch1 #din, r @77;, 3&r disc)ssio#04 Crimi- #&logists lar, l+ a(&id radical !$la#ati&#s, a#* ha( 3ra" * th critiq) s &3 that a$- $r&ach ar&)#* a s ries dat d, lar, l+ in(alid criticis"s (L+#ch @75E'04 Th&s criticis"s, 3&r !a"$le, * $ict radical !$la#atio#s as a'- stract, a#ti- "$irical, as )#2)a#tifia'le, a#* 2) sti&#a'le ' ca)s &3 th ir ass)" * $&liti- cal &rie#tatio#s /3&r r (ie1 s L+#ch a#* Michalo1ski @77;04 As #&t d, this t+$ &3 crit- icis" is dat * a#* has #&t 8 $t $ac 1ith th * ( lo$" #t &r a$$licatio# &3 radical crimi- #&lo,+, a#* s$ ciall+ its "$irical a$$lica- tio#s t& th st)*+ &3 crim (L+#ch, Sch1 #din, r a#d Sch1 #din, r @77;04 9hil th&s criticis"s ha( ' c&" irr le- (a#t t& th #at)r &3 "&r c&#t "$&rar+ ( r- sio#s &3 radical crimi#&lo,+, th r ar , t& ' s)r , limitatio#s i# th radical crimin&logical lit rat)r , a#* th&s li"itatio#s ha( 3acili- tat * th # glect &3 radical crimi#&lo,+4 Chi 3 a"&#, th&s li"itatio#s has ' # th 3ailur t& c&#tin) a radical critiq) &3 &rth&*&! th - &ries &3 crim that &#c st&&* c #t r sta, i# radical crimin&lo,+ / 4,4, Ta+lor, 9alt&# a#* Y&)#, 56CE? Cha"'liss 56C=? Gris' r, 56C=? Q)in# + 56>704 D)rin, th h +-da+ &3 radical LYNCH & BOGGESS | RADICAL SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION THEORY |17 crimin&lo,+ in th 56C7s a#* 56>7s &# c&)ld locat r 3 r #c s t& radical crimin&logical a$- $r&ach s in a #)"' r &3 &rth&*&! crimin&- logical st)dies4 That is t& sa+, * s$it th cri- tiq) &3 radical crimin&lo,+ that ha* ' # * ( lo$ * '+ &rth&*&! crimin&logists, &rth&- *&! crimin&logists still "a* r 3 r #c t& th im$&rta#t insights &3 radical crimin&lo,+ s- $ ciall+ in r latio# t& $&litical c&#&"ic a#al- +sis a#* disc)ssio#s &3 class 'ias 1ith r s$ ct t& crim , la1 a#* D)stic , a#* th r&le &3 insti- t)tio#alize* $&1 r as a# im$&rta#t iss) t& c&#sider 1h # !$lainin, crim , la1 a#* D)s- tic 4 This critiq) 1as s$ ciall+ r le(a#t t& class 'ias a#* th # glect &3 th crim s &3 th $&1 r3)l (L+#ch a#* Michalo1ski @77;04 R 3- r #c s t& radical crimin&logical lit rat)r , h&1 ( r, ha( lar, l+ disa$$ ar * 3r&" th &rth&*&! crimin&logical lit rat)r , a#* i# $art, that &)tc&" is a c&#s 2) #c &3 th # gl ct &3 th 3)rth r * ( lo$" #t &3 $&liti- cal c&#&"ic a#* class-'as * !$la#ati&#s a#* th * ( lo$" #t &3 ")ltiple alt r#ativ critical crimin&logical a$$r&ach s that # - glect class-'as * a#al+sis a#* critiq) (L+#ch @75E'04 T& 3acilitat 3)rth r * ( lo$" #t &3 radical !$la#ati&#s &3 crim a#* c&#trib)t t& r in- (ig&ratio# &3 that a$$r&ach, i# th $r s #t 1&r8 1 dra1 att #tio# t& $&litical c&#&"+ a#* its int rs ctio# 1ith &# &3 th "aD&r str)ct)ral a$$r&ach s "$lo+ * '+ &rth&*&! crimin&logistsBs&cial