Summary and Review

blackmail: trying to force an individual to say or do something by threatening to punish them or reveal embarrassing information about them if they do not.

Black Panther: a political group founded to patrol African American neighbourhoods to protect citizens from police brutality. It evolved into a larger movement that sought to draw attention to the racial, political, and economic injustices perpetrated against African Americans.

civil offence: in contrast to criminal offences, where the state initiates the proceedings against a criminal defendant, a civil offence is initiated by a private citizen (or corporation) against a person (or corporation). Those found guilty in a civil proceeding are said to be liable for “damages”. Rather than prison, they pay the victim money.

Cointelpro: a secret intelligence program organised by the FBI to discredit individuals and groups perceived to be a threat to the government of the United States. Targets included Indigenous and Black leaders critical of the government, such as members of the American Indian Movement and the Black Panther Party, socialists, and those advocating for an end to war.

corporate crime: a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of their occupation for the benefit of the business or corporation.

coup d’ètat: non-democratic, and often violent, overthrow of a government, either by those already working within the government but unhappy with its leadership, or by those outside the government who view the government as a threat to their interests.

financial crime: these white-collar crimes involve illegality within finance and financial institutions, such as banks and insurance companies, and typically involve large sums of money.

fraud: a misrepresentation of facts and/or the use of dishonest methods in order to obtain money or other financial or personal benefits.

genocide: a coordinated effort intended to bring about the destruction of a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.

illegal monopoly: when a company gains exclusive control over the consumer market for a particular good or service through illicit conduct.

insider trading: the buying or selling of a publicly-traded company’s stock by someone who has non-public, material information about that stock” that will likely affect its value.

lobbying: efforts to influence lawmakers, and the law-making process, on behalf of a particular individual, group, industry, or organisation.

occupational crime: thefts against businesses that involve employees, executives, or owners, for personal benefit.

oligarch: a member of a small, ruling faction, that possesses significant social and economic power and is able to use it to influence the political system.

political crime: governmental or political party officials engaging in illegal and improper activity for personal gain.

price-fixing: when two or more companies that are supposed to be competitors conspire to set prices at a certain level in order to avoid direct competition when selling the same products.

racialised: the process by which groups of people are designated as being part of a “race” and subjected to differential or unequal treatment on that basis.

regulatory offence: legal activities such as the manufacture of products to the public, driving on roads and highways, and working. The goal of this law is to protect the public from the potentially harmful consequences of otherwise legal activity.

state-organised crime: acts defined by law as criminal and committed by state officials in pursuit of their job as representatives of the state.

street crime: crimes that include acts that occur in both public and private spaces, as well as interpersonal violence and property crime.

white-collar crime: a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of their occupation.