A Contribution to a Sociological Analysis of Impunity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26881/gsp.2025.4.09Keywords:
punishment, impunity, anomie, war crimeAbstract
Impunity is a frequent topic in journalism and private conversation, but it is rarely discussed in academic studies. A sociological analysis of impunity is intended to provide insight into what the sources, circumstances, and consequences of the occurrence of this phenomenon are. In this article, an investigation of impunity is conducted in terms of definitions and indications of the aims and functions of criminal punishment. My analysis shows how the removal of criminal punishment from the catalogue of instruments of social control leads to the violation of the axionormative order, the disappearance of the sociogenic capacity of the social structure, and the moral confusion of individuals.
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