Corrupt Capital: Alcohol, Nightlife, and Crimes of the Powerful

This book explores the social, political, and economic factors that contribute to white-collar crime and corruption in the nightlife economy, using an auto-ethnographic case study and a theoretical framework on capitalism's criminogenic features. It offers a fresh perspective on these issues by examining the bar and nightlife environment, and is written in an accessible and compelling style that will appeal to a wide range of readers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 172 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the intricate web of social, political, and economic factors that contribute to the prevalence of white-collar crime and corruption within the vibrant nightlife economy. Drawing from firsthand experiences as a former bouncer-turned-bartender in a major U.S. city, the author offers a captivating auto-ethnographic case study to shed light on the routine and deeply ingrained nature of corruption and deviance among regulators and the regulated within this dynamic environment.

Incorporating a diverse range of disciplinary perspectives, Corrupt Capital provides a scholarly yet accessible exploration of the criminogenic features and structural contradictions of capitalism. The author meticulously describes how the dominant political economy is plagued by inherent structural contradictions, which in turn give rise to a wide array of manifestations of white-collar crime, organizational deviance, and public corruption. By utilizing the bar and nightlife environment as an empirical anchor, the research achieves a methodological breakthrough by venturing into ethically and logistically challenging environments.

The author's writing style is both engaging and thought-provoking, avoiding the voyeuristic and reductionist tropes that have historically been associated with dangerous fieldwork. Through a combination of rigorous scholarship and inviting prose, Corrupt Capital offers a comprehensive understanding of crimes committed by both the relatively powerful and the powerless within the nightlife economy. This book appeals to a wide audience, including criminologists, sociologists, law and society scholars, political scientists, and anyone interested in exploring the intricate relationship between power, law, and routinized corruption in this dynamic sector.

Weight: 320g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367554798