In existing criminology there are concepts: a criminal…
“In existing criminology there are concepts: a criminal man, a criminal profession, a criminal society, a criminal sect, and a criminal tribe; but there is no concept of a criminal state, or a criminal government, or criminal legislation. Consequently, the biggest crimes actually escape being called crimes.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Criminology lacks a concept for a state that itself commits crimes, allowing large‑scale wrongdoing to evade proper classification.
In simple terms: No term exists for a criminal state, so big crimes go unlabelled.
Key Takeaway
Develop frameworks to label and address state‑level wrongdoing.
Themes
politics
law
ethics
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
theoretical
provocative
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- human rights advocacy
- international law
- public awareness
Key Concepts
state crime
government accountability
Questions to Reflect On
- What would a definition of “criminal state” enable?
- How can citizens hold governments accountable?
A Different Perspective
Political resistance may block recognition of state crimes.