Jacques, S. (2009). The necessary conditions for retaliation: Toward a theory of non ‐ violent and violent forms in drug markets. Justice Quarterly , 27 (2), 186-205. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418820902873860
The Article Summary
The Topic Covered In the Article
The article focuses on drugs, crime, and social policy. It talks about the relationship between the drug market participants and their retaliation. The paper argues that drug market participants’ retaliation can be violent or non-violent, depending on the form of mediation.
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The Main Arguments of the Study
The article argues that retaliation of the drug market participants is not always violent. As a result, the paper describes a typology and theory of drug market retaliation, appraises the purpose and method of data employment. Also, the article focuses on developing strategies that may help in reducing retaliation in drug markets.
Conceptualization of the Primary Concepts in the Study
Although the prior research indicates an intimate relationship amongst unlawful drug markets and violent reprisal, this article tries to conceptualize that not all retaliation is violent. The paper aims to move criminology towards a complete, and nuanced non-violent and violent reprisals, understanding drug markets through theoretical and conceptual foundation provision for upcoming criminological work.
The Methodology Informing the Study
The population in this study consisted of twenty-five middle-class drug dealer who lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. The study focused on participants who were selling drugs or were in the business within the past two years. As a result, this formed an ideal population for the study. The participants were aged between 18 and 23 years and had all graduated from high school. They were selling drugs such as hallucinogenic mushrooms, LSD, pharmaceuticals, cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana.
The information was collected through interviewing the drug dealers. These interviews were semi-structured and informally conducted. The shortest interview lasted for thirty minutes, while the longest took up to two hours. The participant quotes use was determined by the capability to help in the definitions conception that includes every drug market reprisal conception and decide the required conditions for their occurrence.
The collected data were analyzed depending on the conceptualization and definition of the forms of retaliation. Unquestionably, the description and conceptualization in question have consequences for their theory development. The definition of retaliation forms regulates the required situations for them to occur.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, the article provides a plan for future criminology work. This plan includes theories development that explains variability in retaliatory forms. Also, it develops research that shows if any given theory is data supported. Lastly, the plan consists of criminal justice policies development that draws on empirical and theoretical knowledge to minimize all drug market retaliation forms-violent and non-violent.
Critical Assessment of the Article
Study Limitations
The age of the interviewee is one of the limiting factors of this study. The participants were all aged between 18 and 24 years. Arguably, individuals make a decision differently, depending on their reasoning and experience. The participants in question are almost in the same age group. Hence, the collected data only refers to individuals in that group.
If the study had focused on participants of various age groups, their findings would have been more diverse. Consequently, they could have been better positioned to provide a concrete conclusion that would cut across all age groups.
Unquestionably, the conceptualization in this article that not all retaliations are violent is useful. Although the law is usually largely unavailable, some drug market participants use the rule for help, hence making retaliations without a conflict. The provision of theoretical and conceptual foundations for future criminological work might result in non-violent retaliation.
However, if the study had failed to acknowledge that not all retaliation is violent, its findings would not have considered other better ways of handling retaliations without a conflict. For instance, although not mostly available, the law’s use can help in developing non-violent retaliation. It is the acknowledgment in question that leads to more ways of enhancing non-violent retaliation.
Arguments Similarities of the Study with Articles
Similar to other articles, the arguments in this article are not biased. For instance, despite a demonstration by prior research that there is an intimate connection between illicit drug markets and violent retaliation, the study still argues that not all retaliations end in conflict. Additionally, the study conducts independent research and makes a conclusion based on the findings obtained.
Theoretical Frameworks
The theoretical framework in this study provides various insight dimensions for qualitative research. For instance, the framework in question offers the study’s organization and focus by giving strong theory support that drug market participants are usually involved in violent retaliation due to lack of formal mediation access. However, it fails to provide the weaknesses and strengths of the study. The study weaknesses are essential in understanding the placing of research findings in context and ascribing the credibility level to the research’s conclusion.
