Crimes by the Capitalist State: An Introduction to State Criminality 0791405850, 9780791405857

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Crimes by the Capitalist State

SUNY Series in Radical Social and Political Theory Roger S. Gottlieb, Editor

Climes by the Capitalist State An Introduction to State Criminality

Edited by

Gregg Barak

State University of New York Press

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany © 1991 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, address State University of New York Press, State University Plaza, Albany, N. Y, 12246 Production by M. R. Mulholland Marketing Dana E. Yanulavich Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Crimes by the capitalist state: an introduction to state criminality / edited by Gregg Barak. p cm. —(SUNY series in radical social and political theory) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-0584-2 (alk. paper).—ISBN 0-7914-0585-0 (pbk.; alk. paper) 1. Criminology. 2. Corruption (in politics) I. Barak, Gregg. II. Series. HV6030.C744 1991 364.1'32—dc20

90-9889 CIP

In any society, the dominant groups are the ones with the most to hide about how a society works. Very often, therefore, truthful analyses are bound to have a critical ring, to seem like postures rather than objective statements. Barrington Moore The problems researched, the way in which the research is conducted, and the strategies devised to reach a solution tend either to support and reinforce society's status quo or undermine it. In this sense, social re¬ search is inescapably political, although usually (and ironically) only the research aimed at changing the system is so labelled. Emilio Viano Does not utopian mean merely: what acknowledges other values as rele¬ vant and possibly even sovereign? But in truth, are not those who in the name of realism act like crackpots, are they not the Utopians? Are we not now in a situation in which the only practical, realistic down-to-earth thinking and acting is just what these crackpot realists call "utopian"?

C. Wright Mills

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