Christopher R. Williams

Anarchaos and Order:: On the Emergence of Social Justice

In this article we explore aspects of anarchism and of chaos theory, suggesting that recent insights advanced by the latter shed new light on the former. The former conceptually explains the importance of natural order as a human process that questions and, ultimately, subverts the artifice of state-imposed authoritative order. The latter examines, both theoretically and empirically, the role of order, disorder, and `chaotic social dynamics in the transitions that society faces (i.e. order to chaos and chaos to order). Thus, we contend that these perspectives are assimilable: anarchism describes an organic means of reconfiguring social dynamics and chaology shows us how this process of reconfiguration is a naturally occurring element in all physical and social systems. To situate the sustained conceptual analysis, we describe how the proposed assimilation impacts law, crime, and especially social justice in society.

The (Im) Possibility of Democratic Justice and the “Gift” of the Majority On Derrida, Deconstruction, and the Search for Equality

This article conceptually explores the problem of democratic justice in the form of legislated equal rights for minority citizen groups. Following Derridas critique of Western logic and thought, at issue is the (im)possibility of justice for under- and nonrepresented constituencies. Derridas socioethical treatment of justice, law, hospitality, and community suggests that the majority bestows a gift (ostensible sociopolitical empowerment); however, the ruse of this gift is that the giver affirms an economy of narcissism and reifies the hegemony and power of the majority. This article concludes by speculating on the possibility of justice and equality informed by an affirmative postmodern framework. A cultural politics of difference, contingent universalities, undecidability, dialogical pedagogy, border crossings, and constitutive thought would underscore this transformative and deconstructive agenda.

Inside the outside and outside the inside : Negative fusion from the margins of humanity

LA. analyse ce que recouvre la notion didentite personnelle. Il montre que la realite ne peut etre concue que dans le cadre dune representation collective. Il etudie la relation entre langage et pensee et note que le langage tend a construire des oppositions polarisees. Il decrit de quelle maniere lidentite de lautre et de la communaute dappartenance (celle du «nous») sont contruites et montre comment la construction de lidentite dune communaute engendre lapparition de frontieres lopposant a dautres communautes

Discerning the margins of constitutional encroachment: The drug courier profile in the airport milieu

Very little is known about the legal dimensions of the drug courier profile and how it functions in relation to airport detainments. This article attempts to fill that gap by analyzing relevant case law. Further, the authors demonstrate how the United States Supreme Court struggles to balance the competing interests of the public’s need to be protected from narcotics and drug trafficking versus the citizen’s right to be protected from unlawful searches and seizures. The article closes with a brief discussion of the implications this balancing portends for the future administration of justice in this area.

Toward a Transvaluation of Criminal ‘Justice’: On Vengeance, Peacemaking, and Punishment

As both teacher and scholar of criminal justice, I am continually reminded of a profound absence in popular and academic discourse on crime and justice. What seems conspicuous to me by its absence seems to others assumed and expected in its absence. The reactions I receive from students and colleagues at the very mention of attitudes and practices such as compassion, forgiveness, and mercy when mentioned in the context of criminal justice are surprising if not discouraging. I continue to be troubled by the degree to which resentment and retribution seem natural and expected to students, scholars, and practitioners of criminal justice. I am equally troubled by the degree to which pro-social, lifeaffirming values such as compassion and forgiveness are absent in the same discursive spheres. This essay reflects my continuing effort to understand the dynamics of anger, hatred, and violence that permeate not only the system of criminal justice, but human relations on all levels.