THE DECLINE OF ELITE HOMICIDE

  1. MARK COONEY Assistant Professor†

Article first published online: 7 MAR 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-9125.1997.tb01222.x

Issue

Criminology

Criminology

Volume 35, Issue 3, pages 381–407, August 1997

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How to Cite

COONEY, M. (1997), THE DECLINE OF ELITE HOMICIDE. Criminology, 35: 381–407. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-9125.1997.tb01222.x

Author Information

  1. Sociology, University of Georgia. This article forms part of a chapter in his forthcoming book provisionally entitled Warriors and Peacemakers: How Third Parties Shape Violence, to be published by New York University Press.

  1. †

    I would like to thank the following people for their comments: Donald Black, Robert Carson, Scott Phillips, Roberta Senechal, James Tucker, and several anonymous Criminology reviewers.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 MAR 2006
  2. Article first published online: 7 MAR 2006

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Criminological research consistently shows that interpersonal homicide is largely confined to low-status people. Yet, anthropological and historical materials reveal that in earlier and simpler societies homicide was found throughout the status hierarchy. Using theory developed by Donald Black, I argue that a critical factor in the decline of lethal conflict among social elites is the increased availability of legal means of handling conflict. An implication is that since a focus on modern societies and their developed legal systems yields a limited and even distorted empirical picture of lethal violence, criminologists should strive to formulate theories that are cross-cultural and historical in scope.

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