Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Homicide: A Sociological Explanation

The American homicide rate remains dramatically higher than that in other Western nations. News of a murder has become a routine event. How do we explain such high levels of lethal violence in the world's leading democracy? Echoing Durkheim's Suicide, this book focuses on one important phenomenon to explain larger currents in American society. Leonard Beeghley examines the historical and cross-national dimensions of homicides and evaluates previous attempts to explain it. He finds the sources of America's murder rate in the greater availability of guns, the expansion of illegal drug markets, greater racial discrimination, more exposure to violence, and sharper economic inequalities. He deftly blends the evidence related to each of these factors into a well-reasoned sociological analysis of the nature of American society. Features Highlights how sociology can be used to explain problems and seek solutions Distinguishes between structural and social psychological levels of analysis Provides a constrasting perspective to Messner & Rosenfeld's widely assigned Crime and the American Dream Uses metaphors and analogies in order to make sociological ideas meaningful to students Employs an engaging writing style to place the analysis in the scholarly literature Offers clear explanations of Durkheim, Weber, Merton, and others, that show their usefulness for understanding modern life Review Beeghley's book provides an impressive sociological understanding of murder.--Okeechobee News The book is well written, well referenced, and adequately indexed. Recommended.--CHOICE Homocide: A Sociological Explanation is an ideal text for sociology and criminology graduate students because it offers a comprehensive review of U.S. homicide through a critical lens. The material is challenging, and Beeghley's research is thorough.--Laurie J. Samuel, Metropolitan Police Department "Criminal Justice Review " With skillful use of analogies and an engaging writing style, Leonard Beeghley has written a book on the sociology of homicide that is highly accessible to the general public. The arguments are well reasoned and located skillfully in the scholarly literature. A first rate book.--Steven Messner, The University at Albany Synopsis Echoing Durkheim's Suicide, this book focuses on one important phenomenon to explain larger currents in American society. Leonard Beeghley examines the historical and cross-national dimensions of homicides and evaluates previous attempts to explain it. He finds the sources of America's murder rate in the greater availability of guns, the expansion of illegal drug markets, greater racial discrimination, more exposure to violence, and sharper economic inequalities. He deftly blends the evidence related to each of these factors into a well-reasoned sociological analysis of the nature of American society. About the Author Leonard Beeghley is professor of sociology at the University of Florida.