LEFT OUT BY THE LEFT
In: Socialist review: SR, Band 89, S. 7-24
ISSN: 0161-1801
OVER THE PAST DECADE, CONSERVATIVES HAVE ACHIEVED SOMETHING CLOSE TO AN IDEOLOGICAL MONOPOLY ON ISSUES OF CRIME AND CRIME CONTROL. THE RIGHT HAS RIDDEN TO POLITICAL POWER ON GET-TOUGH PROPOSALS FOR DEALING WITH CRIMINALS. ITS SUCCESSES HAVE PERSUADED OTHERWISE LIBERAL POLITICIANS, SUCH AS MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS, TO STRIKE A CONSERVATIVE STANCE ON CRIME. AS A RESULT OF CONSERVATIVE INITIATIVES-THE NATIONWIDE MOVE TOWARD HARSHER SENTENCING, FOR EXAMPLE--GOVERNMENT HAS EXPANDED ITS POWER TO CONTROL THE POPULATION. CRIME CONTROL HAS BECOME A TRYSTING POINT WHERE CORPORATIONS AND THE STATE ENGAGE IN AN INCREASINGLY INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP. THE LEFT HAS SAID VERY LITTLE ABOUT THESE DEVELOPMENTS. NOT ONLY HAS IT FAILED TO RESPOND ADEQUATELY TO THE RIGHT'S TAKEOVER OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE; IN MANY AREAS IT HAS FAILED EVEN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES. ONE NEEDS UNDERSTAND WHY THE LEFT HAS BEEN SO WEAK. ONE ALSO NEED TO DISCUSS WAYS IN WHICH IT COULD DEVELOP A STRONGER VOICE IN CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL-JUSTICE POLICY.