ABSTRACT
The Enron et al. cases are the first major American white collar crime cases of the new century. This chapter identifies some of the key attributes of these cases. The Enron et al. cases can only be understood by applying criminological theory on several different levels; structural, organizational, dramaturgic and individualistic dimensions are applied to the Enron case in particular. The Enron et al. cases must also be understood in the context of an emerging postmodern society. The specific role of criminologists in explaining and responding to these paradigmatic new white collar crime cases is addressed. In sum, a specifically criminological analysis of the Enron et al. cases should complement and enrich analyses generated by commentary and interpretation coming from many other sources. The chapter concludes with some conjectures on the potential outcomes of the Enron et al. cases.
