Politics and Youth Gangs

A Follow-up Study

Bibliographic Data

ID2275871
AuthorsJames F Short (Washington State University), John Moland (Southern University)
Year1976
Volume17
Issue2
Pages162-179
Publication date1976-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociological Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0038-0253 • E-ISSN: 1533-8525
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1533-8525.1976.tb00972.x
OpenAlexW2102942906
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited22

Scholarly interest in the political relationships of youth gangs recently has revived, following mass media reports of the politicization of some gangs and federal and private funding in support of economic and socially constructive programs in which a few large gangs participated. Unlike earlier gang political activities (which supported entrenched political power) recent reports suggest that youth gangs and their young adult counterparts have become radicalized, alienated from traditional political approaches and ideologies. This paper focuses on the political attitudes and activities, especially with respect to civil rights programs of young men, now aged 21 to 35, who were members of black youth gangs studied initially between 1959 and 1962. Assimilationist organizations and approaches receive higher recognition and support than do protest, black nationalist, and other groups, and violent methods. Variations in response reflect gang and community differences. The crientation to politics reflected in the findings appears more pragmatic than ideological. The potential for effective organization is related to recent reports of militant organization within prisons, a common experience for gang members

Criminology · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance · Gender Studies · Law · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

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