Political crime: an application of Merton's theory of social structure and anomie

Political crime receives little attention by criminologists relative to other forms of crime. What attention that has been given is hindered by lack of theoretical explanations to guide the research efforts, such as atheoretical descriptive accounts or typologies of political criminality. In this thesis, I apply Merton's theory of social structure and anomie to two CIA case studies: MKUltra (1950-1973) mind control/behavior modification experiments, and MHChaos (late 1950s-1974) a domestic counterintelligence program. Anomie theory focuses on the disjuncture between cultural goals and institutional means to achieve end results. I argue that political crimes result when governmental agencies cannot reach their goals using legitimate means. Thus, they find illegitimate means, i.e. unlawful behavior, to obtain their goals. Specifically, the analysis of this thesis examines: (1) how the CIA defined their goals; (2) how the CIA justified the use of their innovative means to achieve the ends; (3) how the structural charter of the CIA facilitated the use of illegitimate means; and (4) how the CIA was able to temporarily dissolve the societal disjuncture of anomie.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology

Department dc:contributor.department

Sociology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1992

Author dc:creator

• Alexander, Deanna W.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Bailey, Carol A.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Fuhrman, Ellsworth R.
• Miethe, Terance D.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-11102009-020037

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/45592