State of crime

• What are the features of modernity that may facilitate state crime?

  • Division of labour
  • Instrumental rationality
  • Science and technology
• What are the two types of human rights?

  • Natural rights
  • Civil rights
• What are the implications of state-corporate crimes like the Deepwater Horizon disaster?


  • Caused by corporate decisions
  • State failed to regulate
  • Resulted in significant environmental damage
• What is the significance of the Rwandan Genocide in the context of state crime?


  • Ethnic division and propaganda
  • Economic crisis leading to civil war
  • State involvement in genocide
• What are the techniques of neutralisation used by states?


  • Denial of victim
  • Denial of injury
  • Denial of responsibility
  • Condemning the condemners
  • Appeal to higher loyalty
• WAR CRIMES?

  • Illegal wars - ' war on terror ' is illegal - the UN didn't declare it
  • eg west accused Iraq for WOMB
  • crimes committed during war - torture or bombing