The ‘'Theory of Criminalization'' postulated by Austin Turk asserts that there exists a difference between the authorities and subjects that ultimately lead to overt conflict. Authorities, such as police, judges, prosecutors, and lawyers are the decision makers while on the other hand, the subjects are the people impacted by the decisions. Grant (2017) asserted that the main difference between the subjects and authorities is that the latter is unable to manipulate the legal process. Turk further revealed that there is an inherent potential of conflict between the authority and the subject. However, he further takes cognizance of the fact that not all authorities are in a position to influence the law. First-line law enforcers such as the police are better placed to impact on the subjects.
Donald Black, on the other hand, gives a theory known as the ‘'Behavior of Law'' that attempts to analyze the etiology of human conflict. It asserts that conflict has the potential to occur wherever there is a social life and subsequently result in arrests, restraining of orders, boycotts, and revolutions among other numerous responses and reactions. However, the nature of the disputes fails to explain how they are handled. As such, Black explains that there is a variation in the way every conflict is solved ( Black, 2014). The variation, according to Black, is brought about by social geometry that comprises of characteristics of the individual involved in the conflict.
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Some of the similarities between the two theories include the fact that both attempt to analyze conflict in the society. Turk's theory looks into the authority-subject conflict, and Black's theory looks into the etiology of human conflict. Secondly, the two theories address adherence to the law and the consequences that follow when one does not follow. Regarding the difference; the ‘’Theory of Criminalization’’ looks at a vertical conflict while ‘’Behavior of Law’’ looks at a vertical conflict.
References
Black, D. (Ed.). (2014). Toward a general theory of social control: Fundamentals (Vol. 1). Academic Press.
Grant, E. P. (2017). Conflict Theory. The Encyclopedia of Juvenile Delinquency and Justice . Routledge.
