Citation

Tierney J. Sociol. Rev. 1988; 36(1): 133-145.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, The Editorial Board of The Sociological Review, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1111/j.1467-954X.1988.tb02938.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Arising out of current debates in criminology over the nature of black criminality and black crime statistics, this paper focuses specifically on the argument that black/working class crime represents a form of political action. Attempts to infuse working class crime with political status have a sociological pedigree stretching back at least to the 1960s. This paper examines the links between contemporary and earlier work in this field, and critically appraises what are seen as often over‐romanticised formulations. The final section attempts to indicate how a relevant theoretical framework may be constructed.