Introduction
Past scholars and sociologists have examined communities from diverse perspectives to develop theories that help describe a wide range of social phenomena. Conflict theory, a famous model by Karl Marx, describes human settings as chaotic due to the fact that individuals are continuously competing for scarce materials and resources. To promote and sustain social order, this theory indicates that power and domination are critical.
When the less fortunate and the oppressed come together, chances of engaging in political efforts and revolts increase. Youth crime stands out as a problematic issue that analysts can study through the lens of conflict theory. The model can help shed more on the reasons why such acts exist, their key triggers, and how to tackle them. Conflict theory is a sociological framework that views youth crime as a social predicament arising from lack of opportunities, misappropriation of resources, historical injustices, and absence of initiatives to empower them.
The first point this paper discusses is that conflict theory is a sociological model capable of describing the scarcity of resources and how people compete for them. This scenario increases chances of disagreements and unrest. The second one is that the youth might engage in criminal activities and violence due to misappropriation of resources, lack of jobs, and inadequate strategies to meet their social needs. The final point is that leaders can rely on the suggestions this model presents to deal with youth crime.
Description of Conflict Theory
A brief examination of functionalism could help shed more light on the nature of societies and the manner in which people pursue their goals. Theories under this bracket focus primarily on shared values, norms, ideologies, and consensus to maintain order and coexistence. However, past scholars have presented additional insights to challenge the practicality and appropriateness of functionalism towards explaining various social events (Symbaluk & Bereska, 2019).
For instance, Max Weber and Karl Marx observed that the rich in society relied on factors of production to maintain and accrue wealth (Symbaluk & Bereska, 2019). They would then implement numerous strategies to maintain their statuses while maximizing their influence. In most cases, they will employ the poor to offer the much-needed services, thereby continuing to remain dominant.
Conflict theory emerges as an explainer of the competition recorded in different communities across the globe. The reasoning behind this kind of rivalry is because most of the available resources and materials tend to be limited. Consequently, a unique state of affairs tends to emerge whereby individuals belonging to different classes encounter diverse struggles.
On top of the recorded social ranks, the rich who own most of the production processes will apply divergent strategies to promote inequality (Symbaluk & Bereska, 2019). They create scenarios that compel the poor to remain dependent on their respective communities. The scarcity of different resources, the increasing global population, and overutilization of key factors of production are unique forces that worsen the situation for the poor.
Proponents of conflict theory examine societies as entities characterized by the bourgeois and the proletarian. The rulers formulate most of the decisions while dictating the amount of resources and opportunities available to the working class. In the modern world, conflict continues to exist since government leaders are capable of misappropriating resources intended for the poor.
Additionally, Sadovnikova et al. (2019) observe that the implemented projects and systems fail to tackle most of the challenges many people face, including poor health outcomes, poverty, and reduced employment opportunities. Sadovnikova et al. (2019) rely on the same understanding to explain why the gap between the rich and the less fortunate countries is rising in both the developed and the developing countries.
The attributes and arguments founded on conflict theory make it possible for more people to learn more about the modern society. Specifically, Symbaluk and Bereska (2019) observe that the framework helps shed more light on the forces of capitalism and how they trigger new versions of conflicts. For instance, governments and those in power have found themselves at loggerheads with a wide range of religious and social groups.
For example, Symbaluk and Bereska 2019) believe that the inability of leaders to support equitable allocation of resources amounts to poverty among the underrepresented and marginalized. Historical injustices and cases of discrimination have led to the development of systems that fail to empower the less fortunate in the wider society. Additionally, governments have been slow to institute practical mechanisms to minimize cases of inequality and empower more people to pursue their goals.
Based on the arguments presented above, it is evident that conflict theory is a practical sociological perspective capable of describing numerous social issues. Sadovnikova et al. (2019) are convinced that the revolutions recorded in the past emerged from the incompetence and selfishness of those in power or places of influence. The case of the French Revolution details the position of the monarch in France and how it failed to address the concerns of the greatest majority, including poverty, rising costs for key items, and injustice.
In the modern world, conflict helps explain cases of domestic violence, social forms of discrimination, and wars. The lessons emerging from various historical events should encourage citizens to focus on progressive ideas that have the potential to transform their lives positively (Symbaluk & Bereska, 2019). A good example is the promotion of democracy in an effort to improve the experiences and outcomes of all citizens.
Researchers tend to reference conflict theory when studying the ideas and origins of civil rights at the international level. Most of the successful leaders at the global level focus on the possible sources of disagreements within their territories and implement practical mechanisms to address them. However, some people still engage in actions and decisions that have the potential to maximize the level of social disagreements (Symbaluk & Bereska, 2019).
This analysis, therefore, reveals that conflict is a strong social theory that helps describe the nature and implications of a wide range of community issues. Some of the key ones would include disagreements among people belonging to different economic classes, fairness in the distribution of resources, and social injustices.
Explanation of Youth Crime Using Conflict Theory
Youth crime remains a common social predicament affecting many societies across the globe, including Canada and the United States (U.S.). Although Silcox (2022) observes that the percentage of this form of offense has been declining in the country, there is a need for involved stakeholders to continue implementing practical mechanisms. Some of the common types of malpractices associated with the youth in Canada and in the U.S. include robbery, sexual violence, causing bodily harm, drug trafficking, and threats (Badasa et al., 2019).
In an ideal society, young individuals below the age of 18 should attend school, avoid becoming truants, and overcome the urge to engage in juvenile delinquency. Unfortunately, the forces and challenges existing in different regions create loopholes that see some minors engaging in misdemeanors and serious crimes. Due to the nature of this social challenge, countries have gone further to institute legal mechanisms and strategies to identify, guide, punish, or help youth minors.
A perfect society would not be characterized by young offenders engaging in unethical or inappropriate activities. However, the reality is that many communities across North America continue to grapple with the predicament of juvenile delinquency. Kandala (2018) identifies vandalism, aggravated assault, and robbery as common criminal acts recorded in different societies.
Scholars and legal experts consult various sociological perspectives that are practical and capable of explaining the nature, origin, and persistence of youth crime (Badasa et al., 2019). Conflict theory emerges as an explainable model since it examines a wide range of factors capable of compelling young individuals to quit school and start offending. The framework examines various attributes that are directly linked to the status and welfare of the entire nation.
In unfair societies, those in power misappropriate resources, thereby making them unavailable to most of the marginalized citizens. The affected individuals would find it hard to get opportunities that have the potential to transform their lives, including proper education and employment opportunities.
Affected parents who find it hard to meet the needs of their dependants might be compelled to engage in criminal acts (Sadovnikova et al. 19). Their children might copy such misbehaviors at a tender age, thereby increasing their chances of becoming delinquents. Poverty could be studied as a condition directly linked to the poor allocation of resources (Kandala, 2018). Children leading improper or unacceptable lifestyles could be compelled to offend within their communities.
The presence of conflicts at the family level can affect children in a negative manner. Kandala (2018) argues that a young individual who grows up in a violent family would have increased chances of copying unacceptable behaviors. Both girls and boys can become more violent and record reduced emotional intelligence (Silcox, 2022).
Some of these victims might become disoriented and eventually opt to engage in criminal activities. The absence of key resources or the inability to have a decent life during childhood due to the conflicts recorded at the social level would increase their overall chances of offending. These individuals would go further to influence their friends to commit a wide range of offenses. These forces are capable of working synergistically to worsen the overall status of the selected community.
In many societies, those in power lack proper mechanisms to present adequate economic opportunities to young people. In their work, Silcox (2022) observes that young individuals who find it hard to get job opportunities or income-generating activities while in school might become traumatized. This outcome is directly linked to poor economic backgrounds and the increasing cost of life. Back in their societies, such individuals might be from households that are incapable of meeting their needs while in school. Consequently, the affected individuals might have higher chances of becoming deviant and engaging in questionable acts. Such misbehaviors would be intended to maximize their incomes and transform their lives.
Summary
Youth crime remains a major issue many societies continue to face. The above discussion has revealed that the malpractice is explainable from the lens of social conflict theory. This framework acknowledges that the existence of injustices, misappropriation of resources, and lack of opportunities are common features of many communities. Those in power engage in ingenious strategies to oppress the less fortunate or minorities (Symbaluk & Bereska, 2019).
When the society treats the youth as still immature, most of them choose to rebel or engage in malpractices intended to compel those in power to address their grievances. From the presented insights, it becomes quite clear that numerous explanations exist that tie youth crime to the presence and nature of conflicts recorded in many communities.
From a wider perspective, young individuals who realize that history has treated them unfairly might become repellent or ignorant of the acceptable social norms. The fact that their parents are poor due to missed educational opportunities could encourage young individuals to start engaging in crime. At the same time, those in power continue to do very little to minimize most of the possible triggers of conflicts at the international level (Symbaluk & Bereska, 2019).
Consequently, young individuals might decide to engage in criminal activities in effort to undo past injustices. They could also be planning to do as a form of protest and compel those in government to start addressing social injustices.
Conclusion
Juvenile delinquency is a social predicament affecting the Canadian society and other nations across the globe. Conflict theory is an evidence-based perspective capable of explaining the true nature of social injustices and how they trigger misappropriation of resources. This malpractice worsens the situation for the less fortunate, thereby being unable to meet the changing needs of their children.
Without proper mechanisms to empower these young individuals, they chose to rebel by engaging in a wide range of criminal activities. Policymakers and leaders across the globe should, therefore, apply the conflict lens to the nature of youth crime if they are to unearth practical strategies to deal with the malpractice. In conclusion, such measures will increase chances of empowering the youth while making it possible for them to pursue their social and economic objectives.
References
Badasa, G. G., Gemeda, A., Gaduda, B. E., & Wondimu, B. (2019). Juvenile delinquency: A need to multiple explanations and interventions. Open Access Library Journal, 6(12), 1-10.
Kandala, L. (2018). Perspectives on crime theories and juvenile recidivism based on socio-economic variables in South Africa. Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal, 6(5), 339-346.
Sadovnikova, M. N., Marianna, N., Arzumanov, I. A., Lichichan, O. P., & Startsev, E. N. (2019). Prevention of juvenile delinquency: The spiritual basis and mediation competence. Journal of Advanced Research in Law and Economics, 10(1), 348-356. Web.
Silcox, J. (2022). Youth crime and depictions of youth crime in Canada: Are news depictions purely moral panic? Canadian Review of Sociology, 59, 96-114.
Symbaluk, D. G., & Bereska, T. M. (2019). Sociology in action: A Canadian perspective (3rd ed.). Nelson Education Ltd.