Professor Barkan and Alum Michael Rocque ’05 collaborate on article
Professor Steve Barkan and UMaine Alum Michael Rocque ’05, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Bates College, have collaborated on an article, Socioeconomic Status and Racism as Fundamental Causes of Street Criminality, in the Journal “Critical Criminology.”
Abstract: The theory of fundamental causes in medical sociology identifies socioeconomic status and racism as fundamental causes of disease and health disparities. We draw on this theory to argue that socioeconomic status and racism are also fundamental causes of violent and property crime. In line with the theory, we argue that criminology should pay increased attention to socioeconomic status and racism for the most far-reaching reductions in street criminality to be achieved.