Thursday, October 31, 2019
Symbolic interactions on homosexuality-a sociological perspective Research Paper
Symbolic interactions on homosexuality-a sociological perspective - Research Paper Example From the US General Social Record, Smelser (2002) indicates that the debate of homosexuality is not likely to be solved any time soon. An analysis of the questionnaires filled and records of interviews, it is evident, that many people have begun embracing homosexuality as a form of living. The blatant question of whether people of the same sex should marry recorded a tremendous 78% out of the 2000 respondents interviewed by Smelser (2002). These results were categorized on the degree of acceptance, and out of the 78%, majority were those that strongly agreed on homosexuality and legalization. Though Smelser (2002) did not find out the exact reasons why the majority agree to homosexuality, he argues that majority of the respondents were completely sure of their answers. He recommends the use of theoretical approach in an attempt to investigate the reasons behind the rising cases of homosexuality marriages. This case study will undertake a survey of the theoretical approach in an attempt to understand why so many people, especially the youth are violating the rule relating to violation on homosexuality. Among the theories that will put under study are the symbolic interaction theory on social deviance in regard to homosexuality, Kennethââ¬â¢s labeling theory and the sexual stigma on homosexuality as well as Blumer, Cooley, Mead, and Kinseyââ¬â¢s theories. Survey on the contributions of these theories to homosexuality will be scrutinized at all points of view in an endeavor to find answers on the homosexuality issue. The symbolic interaction theory According to Benard and Mahood (2006), symbolic interaction theory is one of the best approaches in the study of marriages and relationships, especially controversial ones like homosexuality, its causes and effects in the society. A simple description of symbolic interaction theory may be explained as, beliefs that are created in relation to the symbols attached to them. These symbols may range from forms of language, objects, people, and perceptions of people amongst others. The symbolic interaction theory makes an initiative of defining how people shape realities in life and the effect of these symbols in their subsequent life. Ellis (1988) argues that the symbolic interaction theory renders people to attaching various connotations to symbols in the society, ultimately, majority end up acting in accordance to their own prejudiced interpretation of what the symbols mean in their lives. Other people will not undertake research to verify their course of action rather acts on what they think and feel is right. This is evident from the verbal discussions, whereby the uttered words play the role of symbols. Spoken words have specific meanings that are sent to the receivers of the message; the sender hopes that the message that he or she intended to send is received in its totality despite the various barriers to communication. This theory, however, intends to bring to light the fact that human beings are not static and that thy have innate feelings
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Book Report-Confessions of an Economic Hitman Essay Example for Free
Book Report-Confessions of an Economic Hitman Essay An enthusiastic young man on the threshold of launching his career to improve his lot is probably facing the first interview of his life. He is ââ¬Ëwearing the best maskââ¬â¢ to project himself as a suitable candidate, but he has the genuine fear that the interviewers are clever enough to find out his real inner personality. He is worried about the serious negativities within him, but as the interview progresses, he realizes to his amazement that his dark past is his asset. His misdeeds are his trophies and medals. His rebellious disposition and discourtesy to his parents are his virtues. His possible contacts with the intelligence community relating to an important enemy country carry immense weight. A few weeks after the NSA testing, I (Perkins) was offered a job to start training in the art of spying. â⬠(Chapter 1, p. 8) Perkins must have thought, it was better to receive without deserving than to deserve without receiving! By selecting such dubious recruits for ideal management training to run the affairs of the Nation, how secure is the future of the country? And the future of the world as USA has tremendous influence over many countries. It is in a position to pressurize them on various counts overtly and covertly. Where this country is heading for when the foundation stone of democracy and free-enterprise is in fact its headstone? Human values have vanished from the democratic framework. The values that assure the dignity of the individual and the economic freedom in the real sense of the term, without any deception, are the important pre requisites for the avowed objective of the UN, ââ¬Å"The World is one Family. â⬠Many specialized ââ¬Ëismsââ¬â¢ have failed to achieve this objective. The history of the past few decades has witnessed the doomed failure of such philosophies. Only noble individuals can build a noble Nation. Only when the thought process of an individual changes, the action process also changes! When the thoughts are changed, the mind is changed; when the mind is changed, the man is changed; when the man is changed, the society is changed; when the society is changed, the nation is changed. Only such changed Nations will be in a position to say, ââ¬Å"The World is one Family. â⬠The pages of human history daubed in bloodshed pose a crying question. How to make this Planet on Earth heaven like? The answer is simple and direct. Eyes full of understanding, heart full of love, and the life that refuses conflicts ââ¬âthese alone are enough! In the paragraph cited above the negative qualities of Perkins are being awarded and the process is not going to build a bureaucracy or any type of force/institution based on truth and for human welfare. Such an agency will be utilized for subversive activities, dubious dealings and cunning machinations. ââ¬Å"From the beginning to end, communism was never a legal action; it was illegitimated. They controlled the freedom of politic, social, culture, and economic. As the economic situation worsened, so did the peopleââ¬â¢s support for the communism. â⬠(Article: Failureâ⬠¦)As for the failure of the ââ¬Ëismââ¬â¢s and corrupted versions of the surviving ones, E. F. Schumacher writes, ââ¬Å"What is at stake is not economics but culture; not the standard of living but the equality of life. Economics and the standard of living can just as well be looked after by a capitalist system, moderated by a bit of planning and redistributive taxation. But culture and, generally, the quality of life, can now only are debased by such a system. â⬠(Schumacher, p. 243) The need of the hour is, the administrative machinery and politics needs to be spiritualized. And that is not possible by hiring recruits to the type of training sought to be given to Perkins. ââ¬Å"The main thing is a transformation of the spiritual climate, a new feeling for the difficulty and the nobility of being human, an all-pervasive fundamental disposition shared by everyone, and acknowledged by everyone within himself as the supreme judge. To the genesis and establishment of that disposition poets and artists, imperceptibly working through the depth and breadth of society, can make some contribution. But it is not something that can be taught and created; it must be experienced and suffered. â⬠(Glaysherâ⬠¦. ) The problem of the day is squads of hit men are attached to departments, important ministries, defense establishments and it is they who run the administration and take important decisions in all the countriesââ¬âwithout exception! And men like Perkins are part of such a system and after retirement they venture to write sensational books, yet again to make millions of dollars! The best alternative would have been to resign before retirement and then expose the administration. Not after enjoying all the benefits and perquisites provided by the administration and then confess the ââ¬Ëguilt! ââ¬â¢ Perkins claims that he was threatened and bribed in an effort to kill his writing projectâ⬠¦What is wrong in it? Perkins was engaged in similar exercises before. Where he was hiding his conscience then? A quote from an article, Complexity Digest, ââ¬Å"Different (human) cultures and social groups have developed different levels of tolerance towards lying and cheating. Whereas in some cultures, being caught in a lie implies loosing face and considerable social consequences, in other cultures learning how to lie effectively as a child has a strong correlation with later success in economic and social standing in society. Complications and confusions, as consequences of not telling the truth, are considered funny Honesty, and are a continued source of entertainment in US sitcom TV shows like Seinfeld. (Honestyâ⬠¦) How true! Perkins must be recalling the experience of his first interview! References Cited: Perkins, John: Book: Confessions of an Economic Hit man Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Plume (December 27, 2005) Language: English ISBN-10: 0452287081 ISBN-13: 978-0452287082 Schumacher, E. F: Book: Small is beautiful-a study of Economics as if People Mattered. (Part III, Chapter 3, p,243)Indian Edition Publisher: Radha Kishna, 2 Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002 Glaysher, Frederick: Article: The Victory of World Governance To meet that objective, the nations of the world will either have a plan or.. UNO, www. fglaysher. com/WorldGov. htm 61k Cached ââ¬âRetrieved on November 3, 2007. Article: Honesty, its importance for scientific advances. The importance of honesty in science: Regulation by formal bureaucracy will not work when the organizations employing the scientists have vested Complexity Digest dated October 23, 2000. personal. ee. surrey. ac. uk/Personal/D. Jefferies/ttruth. html 23k Cached ââ¬â Retrieved on November 3, 2007. Article: The Failure of Communism In Eastern Europe essays. www. megaessays. com/viewpaper/86270. html Retrieved on November 3, 2007.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
International News Coverage of Developing Countries
International News Coverage of Developing Countries International news coverage of the developing world has seen a steady decline over recent years which has recently been reversed due to intervention in developing countries by western governments. The primary example of this has been the Iraq conflict. The medias focus tends to cover traditional realist issues such as the relations between states. Many of the important political and social issues in developing countries do not concern these inter-state relationships and are therefore overlooked. Diplomacy and intervention by western governments in developing countries fits this realist agenda and accounts for the upsurge in interest in developing countries, particularly in Iraq. In contrast, many of the most important issues to developing countries such as poverty, hunger and civil war are marginalised in international news coverage. They exist outside of the traditional realist conception of inter-state relations and do not concern western governments, companies, readers and audienc es directly. They also reflect the inequality of a global capitalist system which keeps the developing world in its unequal position to ensure the prosperity of the developed world. The media is naturally wary about pointing out the horrendous ramifications of this inequality to its readers and viewers. Research conducted by VSO, an organisation which works with many international development charities does not believe that developing countries get the international news coverage they deserve. Its website claims that factual coverage of the developing world is at the lowest level ever recorded It claims that in 2004 BBC1 and ITV1 showed less than twenty hours of factual programming which was filmed in developing countries. It went on to note that international news coverage of all media types was failing to comply with the Communications Act, passed by Parliament in 2003, which required that adequate space be given to international news coverage. Another study by ibt.org suggests that the amount of news stories covering the developing world increased and decreased across most news organisations at the same rates. This led them to the conclusion that news events, rather than editorial policies, primarily determine the amount of foreign news coverage They continued this theme by noting that an increase in news coverage of the developing world after 2003 could be explained by the Iraq conflict and the interest shown in it by the western media. Opinion is therefore divided about the significance of the figures involved in international news coverage of the developing world. The issue is not just about the amount of time and space given to the developing world. The nature of the coverage is also important. The ibt.org study pointed out the significance of the Iraq conflict in increasing news coverage of the developing world. However, this conflict involves governments, troops and companies from the developed world and could be seen as interesting the western media for this reason. The medias interest in the developing world is so high because it temporarily ties in with governments, people and issues which are normally the primary concern of the international media. This questions the nature of events in the developing world which are deemed worthy of attention by the western media. International news coverage can be seen as reporting issues which cover the main concerns of the countries and societies which produce them. Traditional realist international relations theory holds that the primary actors in the international system are states. Relations between states are the most interesting and most significant areas of analysis, and the history of international relations is the history of relations between states. Steven Lamy points out the importance of the structure of the international system and its role as the primary determinant of state behaviour. War and diplomacy (which in the developed world has now largely replaced war) are seen as the most important elements of international relations. News coverage of international issues follows this pattern and focuses on the developing relationships between states. However, many political relations within developing countries do not necessarily follow this realist way of thinking. Many of the important issues within developing countries do not concern relations between states. According to liberal international relations theory, developing countries are beset with issues that do not concern inter-state relations. Poverty, disease, hunger and civil war beset many developing countries and have little to do with relations between states. Developing countries do not have the same history of state relations as developed countries and the issues which concern them and which may be worthy of international news coverage are on a smaller, longer-term scale than the inter-state relations of the developed world. They often do not fit into the perceived pattern of international relations which the western media is primarily concerned with. This fits in with the case of increased media interest in the Iraq conflict. Diplomacy and inter-state war are involved and fit the realist agenda of what is significant in the realm of international relations. The issues at stake concern an international order which developed governments have a clear interest in. The conflict touches the lives of the readers and audiences of the western media, either through the success or failure of their governments, the price of their oil and petrol, or the lives of loved ones fighting or working in Iraq. In contrast the horrendous devastation which the conflict has cause to the Iraqi people is not the main issue reported by the media. International news coverage reports on the developing world but not about it. Its primary concern is the realist actions of developed states and those working for those states. In contrast to the media coverage of a conflict involving developed states in a developing country many of the biggest concerns of developing countries remain unaddressed by the western media. The many civil wars which blight African countries receive little media attention because they do not involve inter-state conflict and because they involve protracted disputes over objectives which do not fit realist principles. Poverty and hunger, some of the biggest issues affecting developing countries do not make for intensive media coverage except in extreme cases. This is partly because they are such an overwhelming part of everyday life in so many parts of the developing world. Caroline Thomas notes how a billion people in the developing world face hunger on a daily basis but the western media has tended to direct attention away from the ever-present unvoiced crises that hunger and poverty represent(and) the focus has been on soft travel and wildlife issues. Recent news coverage on the crisis of poverty in the developing world has focused on diplomacy between western governments. This again reflects the realist tendency to see issues in terms of state relations. The grim reality of how these issues concern the lives of ordinary people in the developing world is overlooked. The political consequences of this poverty are seen in terms of relations between developed governments instead of an analysis of domestic politics in developing countries. This lack of focus on the everyday problems faced by many people in the developing world can also be explained from a Marxist perspective. The developing world is seen as being held in its unequal position by the global capitalist system which works in favour of the developed world. Michael Rush notes that underdevelopment is not a stage on the road to a capitalist society, but a condition or symptom of capitalist domination. Our prosperity is ensured by the poverty of others. From this point of vie w everyone in the developed world is partly responsible for the unequal relationship between the developed and developing worlds. Western readers and viewers may wish to help out particular crises in the developing world with charitable donations but suffer a kind of compassion fatigue (and even guilt) if they are exposed to prolonged exposure to the everyday horrors that many people in the developing world face. In conclusion, the amount of international news coverage of the developing world tends to vary according to events. The media focuses on inter-state diplomacy and conflict, particularly when developed governments and armies are involved. This is well shown in the case of western governments involvement in the Iraq war and the interest shown in it by the western media. In contrast many of the issues which really matter in the developing world such as poverty, disease and civil war go largely unreported in international news coverage. These issues do not fit in with the dominant realist conception of international relations as interactions between states. On top of this these crucial issues can be seen as being caused by the unequal relationship between the developing and developed worlds inherent in the global capitalist system. The developing world deserves, and indeed needs to have these issues addressed if they are to be resolved.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Edward Kennedy Ellington :: essays research papers
The man was born Edward Kennedy Ellington; but he exists in the eyes of American culture as the Duke. He received the nickname from a childhood friend who recognized his style and debonair. That style would carry him around the country and eventually the world as one of the music worldââ¬â¢s most prolific composers. His life began in Washington DC on April 29, 1899. Duke did not start up as a child prodigy; while he took piano lessons, he leaned more to sports in his formative years. His parents were strong role models who supported his interests and taught him how to be successful in life. As he grew up and made his way through high school, he developed artistic talent which would lead him to seek higher education in that field. He turned down and prestigious scholarship to Pratt Institute of Fine Art and stayed in Washington to attend Armstrong Manual Training School instead. It was during college that his interest in music took off. He was intrigued by Ragtime style pianists in Washington and would seek out Jazz piano players wherever he went. His earliest personal influence was a piano player named Harvey Brooks. Combined with his early teachers, Oliver ââ¬Å"Docâ⬠Perry and Louis Brown, Duke Ellington found the encouragement and skills necessary for him to go out and become successful . He left school to pursue music as a career and found some work in Washington with his first band ââ¬â The Dukeââ¬â¢s Serenaders. They played in Washington for six years before making an important move to New York in 1923 at the advice of Jazz great Fats Waller. In that year Ellington recorded his first record and changed the bandââ¬â¢s name to The Washingtonians. Radio was the big key to the foundation of Ellingtonââ¬â¢s success in New York. It was radio which had prepared New Yorkers for his sound and once his band made connections with the major New York clubs, it was radio which made their sound a national phenomenon. The most important of the clubs which Duke Ellington played for was the Cotton Club. The combination of the national radio broadcasts that aired from the Cotton Club and the addition of Irving Mills as the bands manager launched Ellington from running a great band to being a star. His fame gave him the ability to develop his band and add in the best musicians from around the country.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Hidden Dangers of ADHD Medication Essay
Medication for ADHD can cause a great deal of overdose for children that have ADHD. Their bodies will get addicted to the medication when they cannot do without them. If a patient stop taking it, their bodies will shut ââ¬âdown and start reacting in a strange way. These hidden symptoms can cause behavioral analysis that can evaluate the effect in medication that has form in the children body. It all starts from genetics, which cause ADHD, so it can be diagnose from the medication that can help the situation. This could be a good thing or a bad situation. The real risk factor of taking medication could start at birth or afterbirth. As an infant, toddler, teenager, even an adult they can be affected. As a parents, and when they are told ,what the diagnose of their infant is, it could be hard to except, at firsthand the parents are in sock and cannot believe this is happen in their family, and most of all to their baby boy or girl. All this happen as the year goes by, down through t he years medication could cause many behaviors, and disorder within the childââ¬â¢s body. As a parent, one should watch all symptoms a to make sure it will not occur during the time the medication is given. Just to see, if there is any hidden dangers pertaining to the medication (APA.org). As a toddler the parent should be seeing the effect of the medication. However, if the child is, acting out, eating, sleeping, and also feeling differently (CDC, 2014). This could be a problem. Then we have the teenager, the parents should be able to observe some major behavior with attitude, which will cause hidden dangers to the brain, by the way the teenager is doing in school, different activity at home or not at home. He or she can be in trouble and the parents will not know. By now the children should be our main interests, which are under the umbrella of ADHD or ADD. Their personality can change at the ages of 6-13. At this time, there could be many transactions of behavior disorder with attitude that can occur. This can be from the medication side-effect or how it react in the child body(CDC.gov).These behavior could cause confusion, like ofà understanding, and not knowing who they are. The situation can get of hand, if the parents let it go too far without checking it out. The problem needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Especially, if there is an attitude changes that can be caused from the medication (CDC.gov). ADHD or ADD is fou nd in the family genetics, also. Which plays, an important factor, and cause the medication to react in brain injury, premature infant delivery and with birth weight, after the hidden danger of ADHD medication. These factors, can give the general public a reason not to use these medication that is effecting all ages of children that are related to ADHD or ADD and from the medication that is given to the children for ADHD or ADD (APA.org). The cause of ADHD or ADD is a risk factor, in an effect to find better ways to relate and reduce the medication that is taken so that it will give the children a chance to correct the disorder from the medication. As a parent, one should not add any problem. When they know, what the problem is, and know that it is related to genetics and from the medication. But, genetics does play an important role. What the parents does not k, now, there are hidden side effect and dangers in the medication. Such as, too much sugar, environment exposure (lead) and etc. There are many things, which are in the medication that does not agree with everyoneââ¬â¢s body (CDC.gov). Therefore it was, said, earlier about sleeping, as adult should get enough sleep to function, a check-up regularly, an infant should get the amount of sleep that he or she needs to function, also. As, well, as an infant to an adult, see a health care provider for any health concern or problem. For an adult, he or she should ge t 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily in order to function. But, as as a adult we do not get enough rest. Lack of rest or sleep can be a risk factor for many chronic diseases condition, such as, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Can you believe it, that all of these diseases are cause by not getting enough sleep. We, also have eating disorder, which is serious also, and could cause problem later on during the person life time. It is common in females than males. It also starts during adolescence or early adulthood or during a childhood stage. All of these can come from ADHD or ADD(CDC.gov). Here is another way that hidden dangers of ADHD or ADA medication can do harm to a child and that is medication during pregnancy. It can do a lot of harm to the the baby before it is born. This will be prescription and over-the-counter medication, andà dietary or herbal products. Talk to your ( a) doctor before all medication is taken. Just by doing that, the mother can do no harm to the baby. So say, 10% of medication approved by U.S. Foods, and Drugs Adminustration(FDA) since 1980 have enough information to stop or for the reason of rick for birth defects. Make sure, if the mother was taking any medication before she find out she is pregnant. She should not stop, keep taking them. Because, if she has high blood pressure, depression she might need to continue to stay health while or during pregnancy. There can be many hidden dangers of ADHD while taken medication during anytime of the life as an infant, child, toddle, teenagers, adult, and as a elder, there should be control while taking medication at all time. References www.nytimes.com www.pbs.org www.washingtonpost.com www.npr.org http://www.chadd.org/ (http://www.firstsighs.org/concerns (http://www.cdc.gov/Other/discl
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Cronica de Una Muerte Anunciado
Society should not be blamed for the antisocial behaviour of some individuals. Every society is made up of individuals with different values, preferences, goals and personalities. It is therefore not surprising to learn that some people feel that society should be blamed for any antisocial behaviour the individual might display. Before considering both sides of this issue we will define what is meant by the term antisocial behaviour. Behaviour that goes against what is considered acceptable by the norms opf society is said to be antisocial.Therefore, in most modern societies, murder, drug-abuse, violence and rape are among the behaviours that are antisocial. Should the society really be held accountable for the misconduct of its citizens? Some feel that it is unjust to blame the society because, as a free moral agent, the individual is responsible for his/her own decisions and actions. For instance in Cronica de una muerte anunciada by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the Vicario brothers kil l Santiago Nasar to avenge the family's honour.It is a death that is foretold because they have already made their intentions known to most people i the society. As a result, there are those who blame the society for not having done anything to prevent the murder. In fact, many citizens feel guilty for having remained silent over the matter. However, who made the decision to comit this antisocial act? Who actually committed it? The truth is, the Vicario brothers are the ones who made this decision and committed the act. So should the society be held accountable?One might consider the events leading up to the murder and say that Angela, her parents, and her friends were all equally accountable. Even though she was not in love with Bayardo, her parents were taken in by his wealth. Moreover, her mother assured her: ââ¬Å"el amor se aprende. â⬠Her friends too, discouraged her from any thought of revealing that she was not a virgin. They also assured her that her husband would not be aware of her state, and they encouraged her to deceive him: ââ¬Å"Lo unico que creen es lo que vean en la sabana, le dijeron. ââ¬Å"All these factors led to her being returned to her parents in a state of disgrace, thus prompting her brothers to seek out and kill Santiago Nasar. In addition to this, the societal traditions that led the brothers to feel the need to avenge the family's honour could be blamed for the fateful events. As we have seen, even though the Vicario brothers must bear the responsibility for their actions, there is overwhelming evidence that the society, through its silence, its traditions, its deceit, and its greed, is to be blamed for the antisocial behaviour of Angela's brothers.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Mass Incarceration in the United Kingdom The WritePass Journal
Mass Incarceration in the United Kingdom WRITEPASS SOCIAL SCIENCE DISSERTATION CUSTOM ESSAY WRITING Mass Incarceration in the United Kingdom ).à The increased need for spaces due to higher rate of imprisonmentà led to the emergence of the prison-industrial complex, whereby people were incarcerated without a mechanism for reintegrating them back to the society. Prisons became contracted out, and the influence of the government was reduced. As Panchamia (2012) concludes, ten percent of the prisons in the United Kingdom and Wales are currently contracted out. Davis (1998: 3) states: ââ¬Å"while government-run prisons are often in gross violation of international human rights standards, private prisons are even less accountableâ⬠. The emergence of these prison-industrial complexes is attributed to the criminological theory, hinged on the conflict theory, arguing that t there is aà struggle between different groups (Akers 1979: 527).Crime is perceived as a function of the conflict within any society based on Marxist theory, calmingà à that social and economic situations facilitate criminal activities. This paper argues that the emergence of the prison-industrial complex in England and Wales was attributed to mass incarceration, the lack of effective social policy, and early interventions. Mass Incarceration Mass incarceration is characterized by the removal of people from communities and taking them toà prisons.à (Newburn 2002: 165). Sparks and McNeill (2009) define mass incarceration as restricting the freedom of a group of people, subjecting them to surveillance and regulation, while increasing their dependency.à According to a recent publication by Wacquant (2001), the plain aim of prison complexes and mass incarceration is to segregate people. The author goes further, and compares prisons with Ghettos. Focusing in the American context, the article highlights the impact of class segregation on the demographics of prison population. The above argument is powerful, as both prisons and ghettos are considered to be places extremely hard to escape from. The main aim of mass incarceration is to remove the criminal from the neighbourhood to ensure that they are detained. Often this priority means that prisoners are denied rehabilitative facilities (Harnett 2011: 7). As an implicati on,à prisons become areas for punitive segregation, for the criminals who must be removed from the society. Therefore, most of these prisons are detention centres where people enterà a perpetual cycle of incarceration for crimes committed because of their economic need. Davis (1998) states that prisons are not providing adequate solution for crime or social issues. The author goes further, claiming that prisons reflect that racial bias and social injustice of the society. Studying American prison population, the author states that ââ¬Å"the political economy of prisons relies on racialized assumptions of criminality ââ¬â such as images of black welfare mothers reproducing criminal children and on racist practices in arrest, conviction, and sentencing patternsâ⬠(Davis 1998: 2).à The defining features of mass incarceration are that it is characterized by comparatively high number of people in prisons. In Reaganââ¬â¢s United States prosecution patterns and conviction rates increased the proportionate representation ofà African Americans and Hispanics,à as well as those from lower socio-economic statuses (Wacquant 2010, p. 74). This was during the New Deal and Great Society, which contributed a lot towardsà the increasing tren d ofà mass incarcerations, and the adoption of the prison-industrial complex system that emphasized governance through punitive acts (Downes 2001, p. 62). At the advent of economic reforms introduced by Britainââ¬â¢s Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, the rising rate of unemployment hità the working class the most. With theà labour market in crisis,à à urban areas had to bear the burden ofà the high proportion of lower class and unemployed population. As social issues increased, the government resorted to the creation of a prison-industrial complex, to deal with the people that suffered most (Wehr 2015, p. 6). The newly created prison-industrial complex that emphasized mass incarceration was based on cultural bias and social injustice (Sparks and McNeill, 2009). These institutions symbolised thee societyââ¬â¢s thoughts and prejudice,à suggesting that the degradation of a person may be a way to solve the social conflict. As a result, the Britishà society started to increasingly rely onà criminological theories to support mass incarceration of the lower classes, whereby the prison-industrial complexes become a large enterprise for the state. Democracy, Inclusion and Social Policy à à à à à à à à à à à It is worth noting that mass incarceration in England and Wales led to the economic and social exclusion of people within the prisons. This segregation and incarceration endangered democracy (Sparks and McNeill, 2009). In line with the conflict criminological theory, mass incarceration of offenders who mostly belong to a particular race or class enhanced the structures of oppression and privilege (Van 2007, p. 189). This occurred when mass incarceration gave undue advantage to one group as opposed to another. Today, both in the United States and the United Kingdom, it isà evident thatà people of colour or lower classes are disproportionally overrepresented within the prison-industrial complex. While the mass prison complex created privilege to higher classes, it created a situation whereby the victims were stigmatized, criminalized, and did not enjoy the privileges of democracy and inclusion. The economic and social drivers of mass i ncarceration are explained by Downes (2006), who confirms that there is an inverse relationship between a stateââ¬â¢s spending on welfare and imprisonment rates. Mass incarceration also hindered democracy by preventing means through which people could share ideas or communication (Young 2000, p. 208). An incarcerated person experienced political disempowerment and a lack of influence, power, while he became extremely dependent on the prison complex (Travis 2002, p. 19).à Despite several attempts of inclusion, provision for rehabilitation, training, and work opportunities,à current social policiesà have not been successful in reinstating the equal representation of lower classes, and the mass incarceration continues. (Reiman 2004, p. 5). Conclusion à à à à à à à à à à à The above review of publications and research studies, it is evident that the conflict theory accurately explains the emergence of mass incarceration during the reign of Thatcher in the United Kingdom, and Reagan in the United States. Historically, the upper class, that was more advantaged socially, economically and politically created laws and policies that increasingly criminalized the less powerful, creating a policy of segregation. Increased incarceration within the prison-industrial complex removed people who were not wanted. Apart from enhancing exclusion and stifling democracy, it helped the powerful class to maintain its influence, wealth and position within the society. Bibliography Akers, R.L., 1979. Theory and ideology in Marxist criminology.à Criminology,à 16(4), pp.527- Davis, A. (1998). Masked racism: Reflections on the prison industrial complex.à Color à à à à à à Lines,à 1(2), 11-13. Downes, D., 2001. The Macho Penal Economy Mass Incarceration in the United States-A European Perspective.à Punishment Society,à 3(1), pp.61-80. Downes, D. (2006). Welfare and punishment The relationship between welfare spending and à à à imprisonment. Hartnett, S. J. 2011.à Challenging the prison-industrial complex: activism, arts, and educational alternatives. Urbana, University of Illinois Press. Newburn, T. 2002. Atlantic crossings: ââ¬ËPolicy transferââ¬â¢ and crime control in the USA and Britain.à Punishment Society,à 4(2), pp. 165-194. Panchamia, N., 2012. Competition in prisons.à Institute for Government, à à à à à à à à à Instituteforgovernment. org. uk/sites/default/files/publications/Prisons,à 2. Reiman, J. H. 2004.à The rich get richer and the poor get prison: ideology, class, and criminal à justice. Boston, Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. Sparks, R. and McNeill, F., 2009. Incarceration, social control and human rights. THE à à à à à INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY Project on Social à à à à Control and Human Rights Travis, J. 2002.à Invisible Punishment: An Instrument of Social Exclusion (From Invisible Punishment: The Collateral Consequences of Mass Imprisonment, P 15-36, 2002, Marc Mauer and Meda Chesney-Lind, eds.). Van der Linden, H. 2007.à Democracy, racism and prisons. Charlottesville, Va, Philosophy Documentation Center. Wacquant, L., 2010. Class, race hyperincarceration in revanchist America.à Daedalus,à 139(3), pp.74-90. Wacquant, L., 2001. Deadly symbiosis: When ghetto and prison meet and mesh.à Punishment à à à à à Society,à 3(1), pp.95-133. Wehr, K. 2015.à Beyond the prison industrial complex: crime and incarceration in the 21st century. [Place of publication not identified], Routledge. Young, I. M. 2000.à Inclusion and Democracy. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
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