ABSTRACT
Confl ict and radical theories sought to explain crime and criminal behaviour in terms of the unequal nature of the socio-political structure of society. Again, this is not a homogenous theory but a diverse collection of perspectives united by a common tendency to see societies as being characterized by confl ict rather than consensus. Two broad categories or groupings can be identifi ed. First, confl ict theorists take a pluralist stance and propose that society consists of numerous groups all involved in a struggle to promote their socio-economic interests. Second, radical accounts are invariably informed by various interpretations of Marxist social and economic theory. Notwithstanding these differences, writers in both camps see social consensus as a temporary situation engineered by those with substantial power in society and the main concern for both groups of writers is with the social struggle for power and authority.
