Legitimacy and crime: Theorizing the role of the state in cross-national criminological theory

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Abstract

One of the primary components of state stability and order is that citizens consider
those in power just and legitimate. Citizens who perceive the state as legitimate are likely
to consider its institutions a valid source of morality and social control. Theoretically,
legitimacy should play an important role in criminal offending across countries. This
link between state power and citizens—that is, legitimacy—has the potential to be an
important social mechanism connecting state actions to individual criminal behaviours.
With this in mind, this article explores how political legitimacy might affect levels of
crime and violence across countries. A lack of legitimacy may lead citizens to (1) reject
the monopoly of physical force to employ self-help and/or (2) withdraw commitment
from institutions, breaking down social control.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)93-111
Number of pages19
JournalTheoretical Criminology
Volume18
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Comparative criminology
  • legitimacy
  • multilevel theory
  • social control
  • state

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