Overview
This lecture explores the causes of state crime in contemporary society, focusing on psychological theories, obedience, denial tactics, and real-world examples.
Defining State Crime
- State crimes are harmful acts legitimized or covered up by governments, making them difficult to define.
- Both authoritarian and democratic states have committed state crimes throughout history.
Psychological Explanations
- Theodor Adorno argued that ordinary people commit state crimes due to the influence of an authoritarian leader.
- Hannah Arendt used Adolf Eichmann as an example of someone who obeyed immoral orders because it was expected.
- Other historical examples include mass killings under Nazi Germany, Cambodia (Pol Pot), Japan, and the Soviet Union.
Obedience and Routinization
- Stanley Milgram’s research showed high levels of obedience to authority, even among Americans.
- Kelman and Hamilton identified three features enabling state crimes:
- Authorization: Authority figures give permission, removing individual responsibility.
- Routinization: Harmful acts become routine and normalized.
- Dehumanization: Victims are portrayed as subhuman to justify violence.
Technology and Routinization
- Zygmunt Bauman argued that technology enabled the Holocaust’s efficiency and routine, making large-scale murder possible.
State Power and Cover-Ups
- States can cover up crimes due to their resources and power, as seen in the Hillsborough Stadium tragedy.
- Global media exposure now makes it harder for states to hide crimes.
The Spiral of Denial
- Cohen described a process where states:
- First deny a crime occurred,
- Then change their story as evidence emerges,
- Finally justify their actions when further confronted.
- Example: Saudi Arabia’s response to Jamal Khashoggi’s murder followed this pattern.
Techniques of Neutralization
- Cohen, using Sykes and Matza’s theory, outlined how states rationalize crimes:
- Denial of victim (blame victim or claim self-defense)
- Denial of injury (claim the victim was an enemy)
- Denial of responsibility (blame "bad apples")
- Condemn the condemners (attack the media or critics)
- Appeal to higher loyalties (justify actions by higher principles).
Key Terms & Definitions
- State Crime — Illegal or harmful acts committed or condoned by government officials.
- Authoritarian Personality — A personality type prone to obey authority unquestioningly.
- Obedience — Compliance with orders from an authority figure.
- Routinization — Making harmful acts a routine part of daily work.
- Dehumanization — Viewing victims as less than human to justify mistreatment.
- Spiral of Denial — Process by which states deny, deflect, and justify their crimes.
- Techniques of Neutralization — Justifications used to neutralize wrongdoing.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review case studies on state crime and denial (e.g., Holocaust, Hillsborough, Khashoggi).
- Read more on theories by Adorno, Arendt, Cohen, Sykes, and Matza.
- Prepare examples for exam questions on state crime causes and justifications.