5. Explaining Corruption: Experiencing Strain in the ‘Modern’ World

The work of Merton (1938) and his explanation for the causes of crime built on the work of Durkheim (Jones 2006), who suggested people experience anomic thoughts in times of social and economic turmoil. While human wants such as food and shelter (see Maslow’s hierarchy of needs) have remained static sudden changes in social structure lead to the decline in social regulation and hence increase social unrest. For Merton, however, a lack of legitimate opportunity for success in pursuit of the ‘American Dream’ and the ultimate aim of wealth meant that for those unable to attain this expected aim an illegitimate route to success potentially beckoned. This condition was or is a permanent part of capitalist society and not a sudden change to the social and economic fabric of society as presented by Durkheim. Acquiring wealth in the USA was and perhaps still is portrayed as more than ambition: it is equated with personal value and social status (Jones 2006). It was the disjunction between culturally induced appetites for wealth and the chances of success that brought about strain. It is this strain of cultural aims of material wealth and available avenues for it to be legitimately achieved that is the thrust of this chapter, with a focus on Merton (1938), Agnew (1992), Schoepfer and Piquero (2006) and Langton and Piquero (2007).