Abstracts
Abstract
This paper reviews several current theories in criminology and evaluates their ability to account for “mega-crimes” (acts that lead to large-scale loss of human life and are widely acknowledged at the international level to be criminal ). The exercise shows that criminology is incapable of explaining mega-crimes. It is not that such acts are outside its defined field of study – they, like common crimes, are voluntary, organized actions that cause damage to victims and lead to interaction with various judicial systems – but because of its narrow and persistent focus on purely individual conduct.
Résumé
Cet article passe en revue diverses théories criminologiques et les confronte à la réalité de ce que l’auteur appelle les « mégacrimes » (actes généralement criminalisés et produisant la perte de vies humaines à grande échelle). Il en ressort que les outils théoriques de la criminologie sont largement impuissants lorsqu’il s’agit de rendre compte de tels crimes. Non pas qu’ils soient à l’extérieur de son objet, il s’agit bien de conduites dommageables réfléchies, organisées, produisant des victimes et impliquant des systèmes de droit, après tout, mais bien que la discipline se soit surtout penchée sur les conduites purement individuelles.
Appendices
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