I'm Not Sure If You Have Access To A Database.

Im Not Sure If You Have Access To A Database Most Of These Reading Ca

Im Not Sure If You Have Access To A Database Most Of These Reading Ca I’m not sure if you have access to a database most of these reading can be found on jstor but you much have access in order to read them. I’ve tried downloading t6he pdf version of the reading but it does not allow me. Let me know if you have access or I would have to find another way to get you the readings. Also I think the crude awakening: the oil crash would be a great documentary to do this assignment on. It’s very informative and also it is happening present today.

Paper For Above instruction

The assignment prompts a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between white-collar crime, corporate misconduct, and societal responses, emphasizing the importance of understanding these issues through various scholarly perspectives and media representations. Furthermore, it encourages analyzing the role of regulation, media, and legal frameworks in addressing corporate misconduct, with an illustrative case study focusing on the ongoing oil crisis, exemplified by the documentary "The Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash."

White-collar crime, a term coined by Edwin Sutherland in 1983, challenges traditional notions of crime by emphasizing that non-violent economic crimes committed by professionals and corporations can cause extensive societal harm equivalent to conventional street crimes (Sutherland, 1983). Sutherland argued that white-collar crimes are often overlooked or minimized because they occur within prestigious social strata, yet their consequences—such as financial fraud, environmental degradation, and public health crises—are profound. This perspective calls for a reevaluation of criminality, expanding legal and societal scrutiny beyond street-level offenses to include corporate misconduct (Sutherland, 1983).

Paul Tappan’s 1947 inquiry into “Who is the Criminal?” further expands this discourse by questioning societal definitions of crime and emphasizing the importance of context and social norms in labeling actions as criminal (Tappan, 1947). His work highlights that what is considered criminal behavior is often shaped by prevailing societal values, which can either reinforce or challenge the legitimacy of corporate misconduct. This framework encourages a critical perspective on how legal systems and social attitudes influence the prosecution and perception of corporate crimes.

The role of media in shaping public understanding of corporate malfeasance is notably explored in David Copeland’s 2010 discussion of muckraking journalism and its historical importance in exposing corporate wrongdoings (Copeland, 2010). Early muckrakers, such as Upton Sinclair who authored “The Jungle” in 1981, played crucial roles in uncovering unethical practices like unsanitary slaughterhouses and unsafe working conditions, leading to significant public health reforms and the passage of legislation like the Federal Food and Drugs Act of 1906 (Sinclair, 1981; Young, 1989). These media efforts exemplify the power of investigative journalism to foster accountability and catalyze policy change against corporate abuse.

Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” remains a seminal work illustrating how exposés can influence public opinion and regulatory action. Sinclair’s vivid portrayal of unsanitary meatpacking practices fostered widespread outrage, prompting stringent government oversight. Similarly, James Harvey Young’s analysis of the passage of the 1906 legislation underscores the importance of moral crusades in shaping regulatory frameworks (Young, 1989). These cases exemplify the intersection of media narratives, public advocacy, and law in combating corporate misconduct.

Further, Harry Glasbeek (2007) emphasizes the legal constructions surrounding corporations that allow them to shirk responsibility, framing them as separate legal entities with limited accountability. This legal perspective contributes to the ongoing challenge of holding corporations accountable for environmental and financial harm (Glasbeek, 2007).

In the context of societal harm, Ann Scales (2009) discusses how causation in tort law often obfuscates responsibility, enabling corporations to escape accountability by complex legal and evidentiary strategies. Her analysis highlights that the legal system, often intertwined with corporate interests, can serve as an instrument of oppression rather than justice (Scales, 2009).

Sheila Jasanoff (2002) further adds that scientific and legal uncertainty around issues like breast implant safety exemplifies how knowledge and risk are socially constructed, influencing litigation and public health policies. Her work underscores the importance of transparent, credible scientific evidence in regulatory decision-making (Jasanoff, 2002).

Jeffrey Jentzen (2009) examines the professional standards of medical examiners and coroners, illustrating how the pursuit of medical certainty plays a critical role in criminal investigations and, by extension, in broader social accountability. These practices influence how society perceives and responds to health-related corporate misconduct (Jentzen, 2009).

John McMullan (2006) critiques mainstream media’s framing of corporate crime, emphasizing how corporate narratives often distort or minimize accountability, thus complicating efforts for effective regulation and justice (McMullan, 2006). Chad Raphael (2005) discusses the privatization of regulation and how media investigations can either challenge or reinforce corporate power by exposing regulatory failures or supporting corporate narratives (Raphael, 2005).

The case study of the contemporary oil crisis, notably explored in the documentary “The Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash,” provides a compelling example of ongoing corporate influence and societal consequences. The documentary reveals how multinational oil companies have historically prioritized profits over environmental sustainability and community well-being, often evading accountability through legal and regulatory loopholes. The current oil crash exemplifies the complex nexus between global economic interests, environmental degradation, and regulatory failure, embodying many of the themes discussed in the scholarly literature (The Crude Awakening, 2009).

By analyzing this documentary through the lens of the aforementioned scholarly frameworks, it becomes evident that corporate misconduct in the oil industry involves systemic issues rooted in legal constructions, regulatory capture, media complicity, and environmental harm. The ongoing crisis underscores the need for stronger regulation, greater transparency, and accountability mechanisms that can address the root causes of corporate negligence, especially in resource extraction industries.

In conclusion, understanding corporate crime and misconduct requires integrating insights from legal theory, media studies, and environmental analysis. The scholarly works discussed highlight the importance of critical scrutiny, investigative journalism, and regulatory reforms in combating systemic harm caused by corporations. The ongoing oil crisis is a salient example illustrating how entrenched structural issues continue to challenge societal efforts to achieve justice and sustainability, emphasizing the need for persistent vigilance, activism, and policy reform.

References

• Sutherland, E. (1983). Is ‘White-Collar Crime’ Crime? In White-Collar Crime: The Uncut Version (pp. 45-62). Yale University Press.
• Tappan, P. (1947). Who is the Criminal? American Sociological Review, 12(1), 96-102.
• Copeland, D. (2010). There is Filth on the Floor and It Must Be Scraped Up: The Muckrakers and Press of the Early 20th Century. In The Media’s Role in Defining the Nation: The Active Voice. Peter Lang.
• Sinclair, U. (1981). The Jungle. Sharp Press.
• Young, J. H. (1989). Pure Food: Securing the Federal Food and Drugs Act of 1906. Princeton University Press.
• Glasbeek, H. (2007). The Corporation as a Legally Created Site of Irresponsibility. In H. Pontell & G. G. Geis (Eds.), International Handbook of White-Collar and Corporate Crime. Springer.
• Scales, A. (2009). ‘Nobody Broke It, It Just Broke’: Causation as an Instrument of Obfuscation and Oppression. In D. Engel & M. McCann (Eds.), Fault Lines: Tort Law as Cultural Practice. Stanford University Press.
• Jasanoff, S. (2002). Science and the Statistical Victim: Modernizing Knowledge in Breast Implant Litigation. Social Studies of Science, 32(1), 37-70.
• Jentzen, J. (2009). In Search of Reasonable Medical Certainty. In Death Investigation in America: Coroners, Medical Examiners, and the Pursuit of Medical Certainty. Harvard University Press.
• Raphael, C. (2005). The Privatization of Regulation. Investigative Reporting: Muckrakers, Regulators, and the Struggle over Television Documentary. University of Illinois Press.