Explanation
Political economy studies how economic structures and political institutions interact to shape social relations, inequality, labor, law, and state power. The concept emphasizes that economic systems are deeply connected to social and political organization rather than operating independently.
In critical sociology and criminology, political economy approaches examine how capitalism, class relations, labor markets, and economic inequalities influence crime, punishment, policing, and social control.
Political economy perspectives are particularly influential in:
- Marxist criminology,
- critical criminology,
- punishment studies,
- urban sociology,
- and analyses of neoliberalism.
Scholars such as Karl Marx, David Garland, and Loïc Wacquant explored how economic transformations influence punishment, exclusion, surveillance, and social inequality.
Theoretical Reference
Political economy is associated with Marxism, critical criminology, neoliberalism studies, and theories of capitalism and inequality.