Global Crimes of the Powerful

This unit introduces students to criminological debate and theory on crimes of the powerful. Students will move beyond the construction of the offender as an individual who commits crime on the “street” to evaluate organisations occupying the most influential and privileged positions in society. State, state-corporate and corporate crime will be at the centre of the unit where students will examine contemporary and historical case studies of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other atrocities. The unit will also critique responses to these crimes at a variety of levels including international criminal justice, domestic prosecution and individual resistance. The unit will examine the roles of gender, race and class in relation to power and victimisation.