CC BY
7Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences 12 (2013 6) 1824-1830
УДК 343.9
Basic Provisions and Prospects of the Restrictive Social Control under the Conditions of Society Stratification in Terms of "Inclusive/Exclusive" and the Growth of Recidivism Among Youth
Yuri Yu. Komlev*
Kazan Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia 35 Magistralnaya Str., Kazan, 420108 Russia
Received 24.07.2013, received in revised form 31.07.2013, accepted 04.08.2013
The article outlines the basics of the theory of restrictive social control. We consider the possibility of preventive restrictive social control to limit the negative deviance of youth under the stratification of Russian society by «inclusive / exclusive» and the growth of recidivism.
Keywords: inclusive, exclusive, recidivism, social control, "the crisis of punishment", deviance, restriction, restrictive social control.
1. Introduction
2. Statement of the Problem
The problem of social control over the massive social and personal dangerous destructive deviant behavior in today's society is a subject for permanent attention of different scholars: sociologists, psychologists, criminologists. Social control over such negative manifestations of deviance as: crime in all its manifestations, alcoholism, drug addiction, prostitution, gambling and suicidal behavior acquires the status of an extremely important scientific and practical problem, especially in the context of public and personal safety. Its theoretical, applied and social significance increases markedly in the new social context of globalization, migration and, in particular, the stratification of "ultra-modern capitalism" in terms of "inclusive / exclusive" (inclusion / exclusion).
The concept of "exclusion" was initially used in academic sense by French sociologists of the second half of the twentieth century to describe those who find themselves on the sidelines of economic progress in terms of "new poverty". As is known, in the context of stratification in Western societies the "inclusion / exclusion" meta-code describes the growing gap between the increasing well-being of one part of people and the "worthless others. In this case, the exclusion of the poor from social prospects in the developed countries is done gradually through the accumulation of difficulties, social ties breaking, suspension, identity crisis, the growth of deviance.
In Russia the exception of large masses of the population, and mainly young people, took
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* Corresponding author E-mail address: [email protected]
- 1824 -
place rapidly at the turn of the 21st century as a result of the shock therapy by Gaidar and Chubais privatization, as well as an outcome of the string of subsequent market reforms, formation of oligarchy and state-bureaucratic capitalism. The process of exclusion is taking place even today: in our country the poor are becoming poorer, the rich are becoming richer, the gap between the rich and the poor is becoming deeper. The stratification of the social structure in terms of "inclusion / exclusion" has created new preconditions for the determination of multiple negative deviance, complicated the situation with social control and public safety. It has proved to be especially harmful for the juvenile environment. The "excluded" teenagers and young people are often homeless, socially unattended, increasingly commit not only acts of street hooliganism, ordinary theft, but more latent socially dangerous crimes, vandalism and extremism, hate crimes and xenophobia. Many of these torts remain latent, but even recorded crime rate shows evidence of the crisis of social control over the negative deviance among youth. The phenomenology of the crisis in the field of social control not being capable of deterring crimes is often referred to by criminologists as "crisis of punishment" (T. Matisen, N. Kristi, Ya. Gilinsky, etc.).
In the community of the excluded without effective social control the scope ofthe constructive activity of young people becomes significantly narrow and, along with the "intermittent" deviant careers there is a growing risk of "intensive" ones in the way of recidivism and professionalization of crime. It is no coincidence that the highest percentage of recidivism is recorded in the age group of 22 to 24 years. Thus, according to statistics from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, along with the general crime rate in the country being reduced in 2010 repeated crimes increased by 40 %. Structurally a half of repeated
crimes are serious and high crimes, more than 60 % of the total repeated crimes are theft, robbery, brigandage and hooliganism - types of crimes that create the greatest threat to personal and public safety (I.V.Petrov).
Along with the criminal behavior self-destructive forms of deviance in youth community become increasingly widespread: alcoholism, drug addiction, and gambling. Since 1990, rates of drug abuse in Russia, according to S.G. Olkov, began to grow with exponential acceleration. According to statistics, the incidence of drug abuse among teenagers in Russia is about two times and abuse of inhalants is about eight times higher than the drug abuse rate for the population in general. At the same time, many domestic researchers note the continuing "rejuvenation" of drug use (E.A. Koshkina, N.A. Sirota, 2001; Yu.Yu. Komlev, 2005; M.E. Pozdnyakova, 2007).
It is pretty unlikely that some of the youngsters decide to change their deviant biography, and become law abiding citizens under the conditions Russian rigid mentality, the "crisis of punishment", incapability of certain institutions of socialization and social control to perform their functions.
It is well known that, the "crisis of punishment" in Russian conditions was strengthened by increased incapability of law enforcement agencies to perform their functions in the society divided into the "included" and socially excluded, convincing evidence of that is "Evsukov Syndrome", "Kazan new phenomenon in the "Dalny" police station, and many other systemic disruptions in the work of law enforcement with reference to ensuring public and personal safety. Dysfunctions of police departments revealed themselves in the alienation of law enforcement agencies from local communities and society as a whole, the loss of public trust in law enforcement, in the absence of
civilian control in the field of legality and law and order, in the corruption of some of the soldiers and officers, in hypertrophic centralization and bureaucratization of the Interior Ministry.
The entry into force of the Federal Law (2011), "On Police", FL (2011) "On the Administrative Supervision of Persons Released from Prison," the adoption of other laws and regulations, the development of the draft of the Federal Law "On Principles of Prevention of Crime in the Russian Federation" , presentation of proposals to further reforms of the Interior Ministry in the format of the "Road Map" largely determined socially oriented vector and conceptual legal framework of the reform of Local Police Departments as key institutions of social control.
However, the actual practice of law enforcement is still going the same way: reactive, repressive measures against, especially socially excluded dominate over proactive forms of control. Despite a slight decline in recent years, according to the Federal State Statistics Service, the proportion of juvenile crime age group of 14 to 30 years in the structure of the perpetrators of the crimes remains extremely high. In particular, according to the statistics service of Tatarstan, it is stable at about 50 %. Moreover, against the background of general decline in recorded crime in the country as a whole, and the Republic of Tatarstan, in particular, there is a high percentage of repeated crimes in adolescent youth. Briefly speaking, the "crisis of punishment" continues.
In modern conditions, the majority of Russian scholars, who investigate deviant behavior, believe that the issue of improving the efficiency of social control over the negative deviance in Russian society, which is being stratified according to the model of "inclusion / exclusion", needs a thorough academic analysis, needs a new "crazy", according to Ya. I. Gilinsky, theory of deviant behavior and social control (Ya. I. Gilinskiy 1998).
3. Methodology and Methods of the Research
The department of philosophy, political science, sociology and psychology of Kazan Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for quite a long time from 1999 to 2010 fruitfully conducted empirical studies on specificity and scope of "norm-breaking" behavior among young people, resulting from the use of psychoactive substances, drugs, alcohol, and committing misdemeanors. In addition to the empirical generalization of deviant behavior facts within integrative perspective analysis there were theoretically synthesized basic tenets of the theory of restrictive social control (TRSC) over the negative deviance among adolescents and young adults.
The main methodological assumptions that shaped the conceptualization of the restrictive social control are as follows:
1. It is a commonplace that the global and domestic deviant behavior studies highly presuppose a number of fundamental points: on the negative and positive deviance, on relativity, constructedness, complementarity of social norms and deviations, the functionality of deviant behavior, of social control as a set of tools and methods to influence the society and state of the negative forms of deviance to minimize them.
2. Modern deviant behavior studies and criminology widely use theoretical integration. Proponents of the integrative approach believe that it is more important to focus on different and complementary aspects of deviance and control. According to G. Barak modern criminology needs to develop "an integrated paradigm" (A.E. Liska, 1989).
3. The objective of theoretical integration is to identify common positions of two or more theories in order to make their synthesis into a single restated theoretical model with higher explanatory potential than it is for a separate
theory. Theoretical integration is usually based on thoughtful options of combining two or more closely related theories. A. Liska in 1989 identified and described these types of theoretical integration, such as: conceptual, propositional, single-level, cross-level (A. E. Liska, 1989). Conceptual integration is a type of synthesis for combining concepts, provisions of the one and the other theories that overlap in its meaning. Propositional integration connects the complementary adoption of different theories. Single-level integration requires only association of micro theories or theories of macro-level. Cross-level integration describes the synthesis of structural and procedural theories.
4. The foreign scientific sources contain wide evidence of different versions of the above types of theoretical integration, developed in the 70-80-90-ies of the 20th century. Examples of conceptual integration theory are "conceptual absorption" by R. Aykers, theory of "integrative conceptual framework" by F. Pirson and N. Wayner. D. Elliot, M. Kron, G. Kaplan, T. Thornberry, Ch. Tittl,
A. Liska developed propositional integrative models. In the 1990-s the problems of theoretical integration were tackled by T. Myth and R. Meer,
B. Tatum and G. Barak. T.V. Shipunova was one of the first in Russia to propose a synthetic theory of crime and deviance on the basis of a unifying concept of social injustice.
4. Discussion
On the basis of foreign and domestic experience of constructing theories of social control and deviant behavior, summarizing original empirical data, using the methodological principles of complementarity and poly-conceptuality TRSC is being conceptualized as an open methodological framework (Komlev, 2009). Its structure consists of selected consistent and complementary concepts related to a number
of mono theories of social control on the three levels of social restraint: institutional, group and personal. First of all, these are provisions of the preventive control concept by T. Parsons, Walter C. Reckless deterrence theory, theory of relations by T. Hirschi, M. Gottfredson and T. Hirschi's theory of self-control. The experience of integration of theoretical knowledge at three levels in models of control is presented in the works of G. Barak, where he emphasizes the possibility of combining cultural interactions between individuals, social ecology and the relationship of institutions (G. Barak, 1998).
Within the framework of TRSC at the institutional level in order to determine the mechanism of deterrence it is proposed to proceed from the Parsonian position that, in reality, no social system is in a state of perfect balance. The factors that influence deviation are always active and they are so stable that they cannot be completely eliminated from the motivational system of actors. The mechanisms of social control do not eliminate these factors, and only serve to limit the consequences of their actions, provide a rebalancing of deviance by opposing forces. Hence, when modeling preventive counter negative deviance one should consider both functional and dysfunctional states of socialization institutions.
The group level departs from the view of the theory by T. Hirshi about the power of social networks that turn an individual to the model of conformal behavior for implementing specific conditions of juvenile deviance deterrence (attachment, commitment, involvement, confidence). Theoretical and empirical value here relates to such a deterrent condition as involvement in social contacts with the group. Meanwhile this involvement appears to be seen in two ways: as a manifestation of the social bond with a group of negative deviants, and with the group in which conformal behavior is normal
or norms are focused on creativity and positive deviance.
The personal level of control upholds a standpoint of M. Gottfredson and T. Hirschi's theory of self-control, which emphasizes the role of effective preventive self-control as a general factor in the mechanism of deviance deterrence. It absorbs a standpoint of Walter C. Reckless" deterrence theory about "external" and especially "internal" deterrence of deviation factors. And here the precondition relating to the positive self-concept (self-control, perseverance, self-esteem, developed the "ego" and "superego", commitment, sense of justice and rationality -focus on the goal and commitment to normative behavior) is supplemented by the negative self-concept (undeveloped self-control, instability, low self-esteem, undeveloped "ego" and "superego", lack of commitment, low sense of justice and rationalism). Thus, socialization can be seen either as a plus (standard) or a minus (deviant).
The reformulated and supplemented provisions of the existing theories of control are stated above and treated as an open for the development methodological framework, which is integrated around the concept of "restriction" (limitation). Its essence lies in the fact that an open but finite set of divergent social constraints determines: the nature of functional and dysfunctional state of socialization institutions, their social effectiveness; specific social ties and involvement of individuals in a group of negative deviants or conformist direction of socialization and the formation of an individual self-concept. Varying the finite number of restrictions of various kinds on the selected control levels can strengthen or weaken the effect of social containment (counter) negative adolescents and youth deviance, social conditions and create preconditions for the transfer of the destructive activity of teenagers in a constructive direction (positive conformity and deviance).
Thus, the theory of restrictive social control is focused on the control and prevention, especially for adolescents and youth deviance. The restrictive concept allows for structured sets of countervailing restrictions and vary them according to the number and orientation of action. Here the set of constraints, which creates obstacles for the development of dysfunctions in social institutions, should be optimized and increased.
For example, in modern Russian conditions, there is an urgent need to neutralize dysfunctions of institutions of mass communication, such as: making of crime and violence one of the cores of agenda (manifested in the dominant distribution of films showing criminal violence, aggressive behavior and offences), broadcasting "anesthesia" (emerging as the growth of mass apathy and inertia, as the transition from "active participation to passive knowledge"), etc. G. Barak, a supporter of the integrative theoretical approach, believes that without restrictions and censorship for cruelty and violence in films and on TV we cannot ensure the survival of the youth environment (G. Barak, 1998). Typical limitations of these dysfunctions for mass media can be reduction of time and places for broadcasting, the number of television programs with elements of violence. Such restrictions will create the preconditions for reducing probability of internalization for leisure patterns of criminal behavior, for increasing time to engage in any constructive activity.
A set of constraints that disrupt the functionality of the media, on the contrary, should be minimized. Reducing barriers for implementation of features such as correlation (explaining, interpreting and commenting on the value of events and information, socialization, coordination of the various forms of social activism, public order and harmony) and continuity (the expression patterns of the
dominant culture, strengthen and support social values ), significantly increases the functionality of the media. In other words, a program with positive functional contents should have the best time in the broadcasting schedule, and not night time.
A set of constraints on the group level, which prevents involvement in dubious teenage street company also needs to be optimized and increased. This may be moving to another area, a vacation in another city or village, rest with the parents, etc. The limitations set which frustrates constructive engagement teenager in a group with conformal behavior or rules-oriented creative process and the positive deviance should be minimized. You can reduce the barriers to activity of initiative groups united constructive, informative or creative purposes, or street football, hockey and other teams that form the basis of mass sports movement.
At the individual level also a significant role belongs to increasing the number of constraints that inhibit the formation of a negative self-concept
and deviant socialization. Without building educational and other barriers to the formation of pedagogically neglected children, it is difficult to rely on the capacity of self-control. Minimizing the set of constraints that stand in the way of forming a positive self-concept and normative socialization, eliminating excessive care, as well as the conditions that form the "home boys" who are not ready to everyday challenges, increasing the likelihood of normative socialization and development of self-control.
5. Conclusion
A number of restrictive provisions, which were put forward, have been tested in some empirical research projects to study drug abuse among teens and youth in the Republic of Tatarstan. Some of them are in the area of public safety, traffic safety, in the media, trade organizations, advertisers. They were implemented in practice in 2005-2011 and confirmed its viability. Other elements of the restrictive theory of control are yet to be evaluated in terms of empirical validity.
References
1. Gilinsky Ya. I. Deviantology: sociology of crime, drug abuse, prostitution, suicide and other "deviations", 2-nd ed., Rev. and add. St. Petersburg.: Publishing R. Arslanova "Press Law Center", 2007. 520 p.
2. Komlev Yu. Yu. Restrictive theory of social control. Kazan: Kazan Law Institute of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, 2009. 120 p.
3. Petrov I. V. Russia has skyrocketed recidivism // RBCDAILY. Available at: http://www. rbcdaily.ru/2011/03/30/focus/562949979958708 (accessed on 30.03.2011)
4. Barak G. Integrating Criminologies. Allyn and Bacon.1998. - P. 1-272.
5. Liska A.E. Strategies and requisites for theoretical integration in the study of crime and deviance //Theoretical Integration in the Study of Deviance and Crime. Albany: State University of New York Press,1989. - P. 1-20.
Основные положения и перспективы рестриктивного социального контроля в условиях стратификации общества по основанию «inclusive/exclusive» и роста рецидивизма в молодежной среде
Ю.Ю. Комлев
Казанский юридический институт МВД России Россия 420108, Казань, ул. Магистральная, 35
В статье излагаются основы теории рестриктивного социального контроля. Рассматриваются превентивные возможности рестриктивного социального контроля по ограничению негативной девиантности молодежи в условиях стратификации российского общества по критерию «inclusive/exclusive» и роста рецидивной преступности.
Ключевые слова: рецидивизм, социальный контроль, «кризис наказания», девиантность, рестрикция, рестриктивный социальный контроль.
