SOCI8020
White collar and corporate crime
Offer semester
Lecture time
Lecture venue
Credits awarded
2nd semester
Wednesday
19:00 - 21:50
CPD-LG.34
6
This course provides a comprehensive examination of white-collar and corporate crime, exploring both classic theoretical frameworks and contemporary perspectives. As students develop a deeper understanding of white-collar crime—including analysing the historical development of the concept and distinguishing between white-collar, corporate, and occupational crimes—they will begin to see the limitations of Western sociological and criminological theories in providing practical solutions to abuses of power. Indeed, white-collar crime, as a sub-discipline, is best understood as an academic exercise that exposes the absurdities of Western social theory as we come face-to-face with its devastating, anti-social outcomes.
We will examine legal and regulatory environments, different types of white-collar and corporate crime from an international perspective, and analyse high-profile cases through real-world examples. The course will focus on motivations, methods, and consequences of corporate and state misconduct, as well as its effect on victims, societies, and this planet we call “home”.
The course will employ a mix of lectures, class discussions, and case study analyses. Ultimately, students will consider possible prevention and control strategies while grappling with broader ethical considerations related to corporate culture, business environments, and state prerogatives. Throughout the course, students will consider the impotence of Western social thought and philosophy in addressing abuses of power, and we will explore how the pathway to a more just and fair world actually lies more in Eastern social thought and philosophy.
Demonstrate Comprehensive Understanding of White-Collar Crime: Students will be able to define, classify, and critically analyse various forms of white-collar and corporate crime, drawing on both classic and contemporary theoretical frameworks in criminology, sociology, and law.
Apply Analytical Skills to Real-World Cases: Students will develop the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, analysing high-profile international cases of corporate misconduct to identify motivations, methods, and consequences, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of prevention and control strategies.
Develop Research and Critical Thinking Abilities: Students will enhance their research skills in the field of white-collar crime, demonstrating the ability to critically evaluate academic literature, construct evidence-based arguments, and analyse the ethical implications of corporate actions and decision-making processes.
Tasks
Weighting
Research Paper on Specific Aspect of White-Collar and Corporate Crime
35%
Case Study Analysis and Presentation
35%
High-Pressure In-Class Exercise
30%
Berger, P. L., & Luckmann, T. (1966). The social construction of reality : a treatise in the sociology of knowledge (1st ed.). Penguin.
Sutherland, E. H. (1940). White-Collar Criminality. American Sociological Review, 5(6), 1-.12
Coleman, J. W. (1987). Toward an Integrated Theory of White-Collar Crime. The American Journal of Sociology, 93(2), 406–439.
Kennedy. J. P. (2016). Employee theft. In Van Slyke, S. R., Benson, M. L., & Cullen, F. T. (Eds). The Oxford Handbook of White-Collar Crime (1st ed.). Oxford University Press.
Punch, M. (2009). Police corruption: deviance, accountability and reform in policing. Willan Publishing.
Reinhart, M. (2019). Fraud and Misconduct in Research: Detection, Investigation, and Organizational. American Journal of Sociology, 124(5), 1598–1600.
Pirrong, C. (2010). Energy Market Manipulation: Definition, Diagnosis, and Deterrence. Energy Law Journal, 31(1), 1-20.
Ermann, M. D., & Lundman, R. J. (2002). Corporate and governmental deviance : problems of organizational behavior in contemporary society (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Barnett, H. (1999). The land ethic and environmental crime. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 10(2), 161–191.
Payne, B. K. (2003). Crime in the home health care field: workplace violence, fraud, and abuse. Charles C Thomas.
Marx, K. (1848). The communist manifesto (F. Engels, Ed.). First Avenue Editions, a division of Lerner Publishing Group.
Ross, E. A. (1907). Sin and society : an analysis of latter-day iniquity. Houghton, Mifflin, 1907.
Bilimoria, D. (1995). Corporate Control, Crime, and Compensation: An Empirical Examination of Large Corporations. Human Relations, 48(8), 891–908.
Jesilow, P. D., Pontell, H. N., & Geis, G. (1985). Medical criminals: Physicians and white-collar offenses. Justice Quarterly, 2(2), 149–165.
Cooper, J. A. (2012). Noble cause corruption as a consequence of role conflict in the police organisation. Policing & Society, 22(2), 169–184.
Bartlett, T. (2019). The criminologist accused of cooking the books. Chronicle of Higher Education.
Raval, V., & Raval, V. (2019). Differentiating risk factors of Ponzi from non-Ponzi frauds. Journal of Financial Crime, 26(4), 993–1005.
Burns, R. G., & Orrick, L. (2002). Assessing newspaper coverage of corporate violence: the dance hall fire in Goteborg, Sweden. Critical Criminology, 11(2), 137-150.
United Nations. (2019). Stressing air pollution kills 7 million people annually, Secretary-General urges governments to build green economy, in message for World Environment Day.
Taylor, M. (2001). Fraud control central. Modern Healthcare, 31(19), 22-23.
Offer Semester | Lecture Day | Lecture Time | Venue | Credits awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd semester | Wednesday | 19:00 - 21:50 | CPD-LG.34 | 6 |
