Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Introduction

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Criminology of Corruption

  • 940 Accesses

Abstract

The essence of this book is to apply relevant sociological and criminological theoretical approaches to the problem of corruption. The inspiration behind this book comes from Huisman and Vande Walle (2010) and the aim is to produce a text that I hope is useful to both those with knowledge of sociology and criminology and those with knowledge of corruption but rarely both. Most theoretical approaches that explain corruption fall under the disciplines of political science and economics with some reference to sociology and/or criminology. This book is an attempt to address this imbalance. This is not a criticism of the corruption literature but a contribution to the debates regarding international corruption. As such, this book expands on the theoretical frameworks currently used in the corruption literature and helps broaden the discussion on why and how individuals, organizations and states commit corrupt acts. Political science and economics focus on the measurement of corruption and on strategies of prevention and view offenders as mostly rational actors. This echoes some criminological approaches—such as rational choice (Wilson and Herrnstein 1985) and routine activity (Cohen and Felson 1979), but these, in both the corruption and criminology literature, do not really focus on why individuals and organizations resist corruption, since acts are considered only as rational and self-interested. In the literature on rational criminological approaches and corruption the primary focus is on making it difficult for such acts to occur by changing processes and structures to prevent access to openings and avenues of corruption.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Acharya, V. V., Cooley, T.F., Richardson, M. P., & Walter, I. (2010). Regulating Wall Street: The Dodd-Frank Act and the new architecture of global finance. Winchester: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agnew, R. (1992). Foundation for a general strain theory of crime and delinquency. Criminology, 30(1), 47–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agnew, R., & White, H. (1992). An empirical test of general strain theory. Criminology, 30(1), 475–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, S., & Heywood, P. M. (2009). The politics of perception; use and abuse of Transparency International’s approach to measuring corruption. Political Studies, 57(4), 746–767.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, H. S. (1963). Outsiders: Studies in the sociology of deviance. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, H. S. (1966). Outsiders: Studies in the sociology of deviance. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, S., Egger, P., & Seidel, T. (2009). Common political culture: Evidence on regional corruption contagion. European Journal of Political Economy, 25(3), 300–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bottomley, K., & Coleman, C. (1981). Understanding crime rates. Farnborough: Gower.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bottomley, K., & Pease, K. (1986). Crime and punishment: Interpreting the data. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman, D., & Gilligan, G. (2007). Public awareness of corruption in Australia. Journal of Financial Crime, 14(4), 438–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, G., Walsh, D., Lewis, C., & Kim, H. (2013). The prevention of corruption: Investigation, enforcement and governance. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Button, M., Gee, J., & Brooks, G. (2011). Measuring the cost of fraud: an opportunity for the new competitive advantage. Journal of Financial Crime, 19(1), 65–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambliss, W. (1975). Toward a political theory of crime. Theory and Crime, 2, 152–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. (1980). Situational crime prevention. British Journal of Criminology, 20(2), 136–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. V. G. (1997). Situational crime prevention. Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, L. E., & Felson, M. (1979). Social chance an crime rates trends: A routine activity approach. American Sociological Review, 44(4), 588–608.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, C., & Moynihan, J. (1996). Understanding crime data: haunted by the dark figure. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, A. (2009). Crime prevention policies in comparative perspective. Devon: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Currie, E. (1985). Confronting crime: An American challenge. New York: Pantheon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahrendorf, R. (1958). Class and class conflict in industrial society. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Della Porta, D., & Vannucci, A. (1997). The “peverse effects” of political corruption. Political Studies, 45(3), 516–538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ditton, J. (1979). Controlology. London: Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Doig, A. (2011). State crime. Cullumpton: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erickson, K. T. (1966). Wayward puritans: A study in the sociology of deviance. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrington, D. P., MacKenzie, D. L., Sherman, L. W., & Welsh, B. C. (2003). Evidence-based crime prevention. Basingstoke: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, J. E. (2010). White collar crime. New York: Chelsea House Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardiner, J. (2002). Defining corruption. In A. Heidenheimer & M. Johnson (Eds.), Political corruption, concepts and contexts. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garland, D. (2001). The culture of control: Crime and social order in contemporary society. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golden, M., & Picci, L. (2005). Proposal for a new measure of corruption, Illustrated with Italian data. Economics and Politics, 17(1), 37–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottschalk, P. (2010). White-collar crime: Detection, prevention and strategy in business enterprises. Boca Raton, Florida: Universal Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagan, F. (2012). Introduction to criminology: Theories, methods and criminal behavior. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heeks, R., & Mathisen, H. (2012). Understanding success and failure of anti-corruption initiatives. Journal of Crime, Law and Social Change, 58(5), 533–549.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heywood et al. (2015). Routledge handbook of political corruption. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heywood, P. M. (2015). Routledge handbook of political corruption. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heywood, P. M., & Wright, V. (1997). Executives, bureaucracies and decision-making. In M. Rhodes, P. M. Heywood, & V. Wright (Eds.), Development in West European politics. London: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschi, T. (1969). Causes of delinquency. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschi, T., & Gottfredson, M. (1987). Causes of white collar crime. Criminology, 25(4), 949–974.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins-Burke, R. (2013). An introduction to criminological theory. Abingdon: Routlegde.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosking, P., & Wilson, H. (2015, April 24). How Deutsche cheated and misled. The Times, p. 38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hough, D. (2015). Corruption, anti-corruption and governance. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huisman, W., & Vande Walle, G. (2010). The criminology of corruption. The good cause. Theoretical perspectives on corruption. Barbara Budrich: Opladen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, M. (2005). Syndromes of corruption: Wealth, power and democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, S. (2006). Criminology (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langton, L., & Piquero, N. L. (2007). Can general strain theory explain white collar crime? A preliminary investigation of the relationship between strain and select white collar offenses. Journal of Criminal Justice, 35(1), 1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levi, M. and Burrows, J. (2008). Measuring the impact of fraud in the UK: A conceptual and empirical journey. British Journal of Criminology, 48(3), 293–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lilly, R. J., Cullen, F. T., & Ball, R. A. (1989). Criminological theory: Context and consequences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matza, D. (1964). Delinquency and Drift. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCusker, R. (2006). Review of anti-corruption strategies. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin, J., & Newburn, T. (2013). The sage handbook of criminological theory. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merton, R. K. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3, 672–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, C. (1990). The emerging British underclass. London: Institute for Economic Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’malley, P. (1992). Risk, power and crime prevention. Economy and Society, 21(3), 252–275.

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne, B. (2013). White collar crime. Thousand Oaks: Calif: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson, A., Rothstein, B., & Teorell, J. (2010). The failure of anti-corruption policies: A theoretical mischaracterisation of the problem (QoG Working paper Series 19).

    Google Scholar 

  • Philip, M. (1997). Defining political corruption. In P. Heywood (Ed.), Political corruption. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinney, R. (1969). Criminal justice in American society. Boston: Little Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinney, R. (1975). Criminology: Analysis and critique of crime in America. Boston: Little Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinney, R. (1977). Class, state, and crime: On the theory and practice of criminal justice. New York: David McKay.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rawlinson, P. (2012). Corruption, organised crime and the free market in Russia. In P. Gounev & V. Ruggiero (Eds.), Corruption and organised crime in Europe. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandholtz, W., & Gray, M. M. (2003). International integration and national corruption. International Organization, 57(4), 761–800.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schoepfer, A., & Piquero, N. L. (2006). Exploring white collar crime and the American dream: A partial test of institutional anomie theory. Journal of Criminal Justice, 34, 227–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shover, N., & Hochstetler, A. (2006). Choosing white collar crime. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegal, L. (2012). Criminology: Theories, patterns and typologies. Belmont, CA: Wandsworth Cengage Learning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, E. H. (1939). Principles of criminology (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sykes, G. M., & Matza, D. (1957). Techniques of neutralization: A theory of delinquency. American Sociological Review, 22, 664–670.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanzi, V. (1998). Corruption around the World: Causes, consequences, scope and cures (Working Paper 98/63). Washington, DC: IMF.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanzi, V. (2000). Policies, institutions and the dark side of economics. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tierney, J., & O’Neill, M. (2009). Criminology: Theory and context. Harlow: Person Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Timmer, D. A., & Eitzen, S. (1989). Crime in the streets and crime in the suites: perspectives on crime and criminal justice. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Transparency International (2012). Corruption Perception Index 2012. London: Transparency International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Treadwell, J. (2012). Criminology: The Essentials. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turk, A. T. (1969). Criminality and legal order. Chicago: Rand McNally.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Erp, J., Huisman, W., & Walle, G. V. (2015). The Routledge handbook of white-collar and corporate crime in Europe. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vito, G. F., & Maahs, J. R. (2015). Criminology: Theory, research and policy. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisburd, D., & Waring, E. (2001). White-collar crime and criminal careers. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Weisburd, D., Wheeler, S., Waring, E., & Bode, N. (1991). Crimes of the middle classes: White collar offenders in the federal courts. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler, S., Weisburd, D., & Bode, N. (1982). Sentencing the white collar offender: Rhetoric and reality. American Sociological Review, 47(5), 641–659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, H. (2015, November 13). How bankers in last chance saloon fixed forex markets. The Times, p. 50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J. Q., & Herrnstein, R. (1985). Crime and human nature. New York: Simon and Shuster.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK

    Graham Brooks

Authors
  1. Graham Brooks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 2016 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Brooks, G. (2016). Introduction. In: Criminology of Corruption. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51724-1_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51724-1_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-51723-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-51724-1

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation