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Plan of the day…. Race, gender and constructions of violence and punishment Re-thinking role of crime in punishment politics, part I Break! Final paper discussion Evaluations Crime, part II Summations, prognostications and other words of wisdom. Race, gender, immigration, violence.
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Plan of the day… • Race, gender and constructions of violence and punishment • Re-thinking role of crime in punishment politics, part I • Break! • Final paper discussion • Evaluations • Crime, part II • Summations, prognostications and other words of wisdom
Race, gender, immigration, violence • Violence against women is often only recognized when it is attached to other types of difference, such as race, culture, religion, language • ‘Public order’ as a race/gender/class perception • Gives new powers to the state • Real effect is to exclude immigrants • Headscarf ban as less about protecting women than about policing Muslim males • Making visible only that violence which threatens dominant order/groups. Invisibility of violence by majority group? • Also, perhaps in U.S., within dominant group (e.g., non-white victims)
Is Ticktin’s argument a version of minority threat theory? While claiming to protect women from danger/violence, real effect is to strengthen dominant groups’ ability to limit immigration, police minorities (especially men), reinforce dominant group power while obscuring structural and racial inequalities?
Crime matters • Need to consider harm done by crime, not just harm done by punishment • Serious violence is a ‘first-order’ political problem • “Is it better to live in a city with fewer prisoners but more police surveillance?” • “The standard [racial] critique portrays a melodrama, the reality is a tragedy.” • How might reducing imprisonment intensify racial disparities?
Punishment research more focused on inter-relatedness ofpunishment and democracy than crime and democracy. • Changing ‘voting directness’ in U.S. won’t change other aspects of U.S. politics that lead to more punishment • Why consider political actors who are more tied to parties than individual voters to be ‘less’ democratic?
Comparative Crime and PunishmentFinal paper, Spring 2014 Due: September 15 In your considered view, what theory(ies) best explains variation in punishment rates and types across developed democracies? This is a secondary source research paper in that it does not require primary or secondary data collection and analysis. Rather, I expect you to identify scholarly materials (suggestions below) that will fill in some of the details with respect to the theories of cross-national variation in imprisonment that we have discussed. The best approach is to read a number of works, not just the ones that support the theory that you find most compelling (to avoid confirmation bias!). Your paper should reflect understanding and analysis of class material, as well as at least three additional readings. You can draw on multiple theories but the best arguments will not simply argue that the answer is “a little bit of everything” but, rather, will persuasively argue that one or two theories are most compelling (that is, explain more variation than other theories). As you are writing the paper, think about how someone would make an opposing argument and include some discussion of why you think your theory(ies) are more explanatory.
Your paper should be approximately 10-12 pages, double-spaced with 12 point font, 1” margins and should include the following elements: • A compelling introductory paragraph indicating what you will be arguing (thesis) and how you will make that argument (preview) • A clear articulation of your main point • Supporting evidence from the course material and additional readings • Citations for other people’s ideas and words. Please use in-text citations: (Author date, page number). • Cogent writing, paragraphs that flow logically • Conclusion • Works cited (APA format is fine)
