Policy Press
Seven Violence and street culture
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Abstract
This chapter observes that it is hard to find a direct link between so-called ‘traditional honour cultures’ and violence. It notes that the development of criminal and deviant subcultures is often associated with new immigrant groups; at other times, with established minority ethnic groups, such as Anderson’s (1999) African Americans, Vigil’s (2002) Mexican Americans, Bourgois’s (2003a) Puerto Ricans, or the French rioters. The chapter explains that this has sometimes led researchers to emphasise ‘honour’ and ‘respect’ deriving from a feudal mindset as explanations for the formation of gangs, important parts of street masculinity, or important cultural influences on drug dealing. It notes that the dynamics of street culture are a better place to look for rationales for the violence observed at The River. The chapter further explains that the dealers’ concepts of respect and honour are predominantly associated with a criminal subculture for which the accumulation of street capital is important.
Abstract
This chapter observes that it is hard to find a direct link between so-called ‘traditional honour cultures’ and violence. It notes that the development of criminal and deviant subcultures is often associated with new immigrant groups; at other times, with established minority ethnic groups, such as Anderson’s (1999) African Americans, Vigil’s (2002) Mexican Americans, Bourgois’s (2003a) Puerto Ricans, or the French rioters. The chapter explains that this has sometimes led researchers to emphasise ‘honour’ and ‘respect’ deriving from a feudal mindset as explanations for the formation of gangs, important parts of street masculinity, or important cultural influences on drug dealing. It notes that the dynamics of street culture are a better place to look for rationales for the violence observed at The River. The chapter further explains that the dealers’ concepts of respect and honour are predominantly associated with a criminal subculture for which the accumulation of street capital is important.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Preface v
- Introduction 1
- Trajectories to The River 15
- Street capital 33
- Marginalisation and resistance 53
- Drugs and masculinity 77
- Street dealing and drug markets 99
- Violence and street culture 121
- Between the street and the welfare state 141
- Conclusion 163
- Bibliography 171
- Index 187
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Preface v
- Introduction 1
- Trajectories to The River 15
- Street capital 33
- Marginalisation and resistance 53
- Drugs and masculinity 77
- Street dealing and drug markets 99
- Violence and street culture 121
- Between the street and the welfare state 141
- Conclusion 163
- Bibliography 171
- Index 187
