Gang activities in Chicago and it suburbs.
Introduction
Deindustrialization brought the new generation of young gangsters. Its number increases every year, all over the country, in cities of different sizes. Are those gangs the product of restructuring economics? Can they be considered a new social minority? What policy should the community use to control this problem? I decided to write my research paper about the gang activities during the deindustrialization because I think it is very important for political scientist to research how economical and political changes may impact the society and public policy. In my work I answer such questions as what challenges the urban administration experiences during the globalization and how to respond to them. This topic has its actuality today because gangs are becoming a new social “underclass”. (Taylor, 1990, p. 81) What does it mean? With the end of industrialization era a lot of job opportunities disappeared for a new generation of youth. Moreover, gang bands usually act as well-armed economic groups. As the result, many young males were involved in street gang activities such as drug dealing and other criminals. Once those young ones fall in criminal they stay involved in gang activities even when they become adult. (Hagedorn, 1991, p.529) It is remarkable to notice that Mass Media also had its role in growing new population of gangs. The Hollywood industry usually shows images of rich, famous gangsters in contrast of limited real life opportunities. This may encourage many young men from poor neighborhoods to follow those “norms” and sell drugs instead of getting education for good career. The interview of African-American young males in Chicago showed that their role model today is not Martin Luther King, but it is Al Capone. (Hagedorn, 1991, p.533) My research is addressing Chicago city and its suburb Milwaukee because following communities are famous for its gang violence activities all over the country. I found interesting to bring up gang problem on the example of Chicago because this city historically was the center of industrialization where a lot of African-Americans moved that time for the hope of new better life and most of them succeeded. With a new era of post-industrialization employment climate was changed. The African-American population was hit the most. Only one quarter of them left to work in manufactories when the rest stayed unemployed. (Moore and Edari, 1990, pp.375) As the result, young unemployed black males started to deal with drug selling and other violence which affected the neighborhood`s safety. In my work I bring up how gangs started their activities from the beginning of deindustrialization. How long this problem exists nowadays and what impact it has on the neighborhood communities. I research how Chicago local administration deal with this problem and what is its progress. Relying on their experience I will make my own suggestions of the solving this difficult situation that faces the city and its future.

Literature Review

A lot of scholars define the nature of gangsters, analyzing their behavior and trying to find the solution to that phenomenon. Before deeply involving to this problem let`s define what is the “gang”. For most of the scientists “gangs are unsupervised peer groups who are socialized by the streets rather than by conventional institutions”. (Moore, 1998, p.42) However, this definition mostly matches the gangs of industrialization era. During the history the nature of gang communities was changing. Historically, gang activities appeared from the 2nd half of 19th century. Nevertheless, gangs of deindustrialization are not the same as gangs during industrialization. Unfortunately, there is lack of information about gang violence during the industrial era. All I can say is that gang activities were always tied to immigrants and young males from poor neighborhoods of the big industrialized cities. The ethnic, fighting nature of gangs was formatted during the industrialization as well. (Hagedorn, 1998, p. 366) In summary, the nature of gangs of that time is seen as groups of young boys in poor communities with the lack of social control. This type of gangsters responds to the definition I noted before. . Starting 1970 with the deindustrialization the number of gangsters increases. The significance of new gang generation is that today gangs act not only in a big cities, but in towns, and even rural areas. If gangsters before 1970 mostly were involved in crimes against each other now they became more dangerous for the local societies. Many social scientists researched the psychological nature of gangs and criminals, trying to find out how to control this social problem. For example, scientist Yablonsky argues that gangs are “sociopaths” that kill for no purpose. (Yablonsky, 1996, p.88) According to Yablonsky gangs appeared in those communities where social control was broken down, sociopaths were raised by ineffective parents and gang rates increases. Miller in contrary explains the gang`s violence as a “lower-class male cultural response”. (Miller, 1996, p.121) He suggested that Gang violence was typically more talk than action. Social scientists also took a lot of field studies in many different locales, documenting a wide variety of gangs in all sizes of cities. The survey was collected estimating the numbers of gangs and the amount of gang crimes. The conclusion was that the decline of manufacturing employment correlated urban crime rates. (Johnson, 1995, p. 47) Other scholar such as Moore found out that the difficulty in finding a job today resulted in “part-time jobs in illegal drug economy”. (Moore, 1991) Some gang researchers were questioned what is the common connection among gangs, drugs and violence. According to Chicago studies the main reason for gang homicides was not the drug dealing, but “assaultive behavior, gang rivalries, or reactions to status threats”. (Howell, 1995, pp. 8-9) There was only little evidence of drug involvement in gang homicides. However, in spite of that nationwide police report studies show that the most danger and hurt that gangs may present to the community is the drug selling. Even more, drug selling business is the most profitable for the gang bands which always will have its dealers and customers. For that main reason young people prefer to involve with gang groups nowadays. Despite all of the social theories about the mentality of gangsters and the explanations of the gang violence the most common administration strategy is in the strong and strict police regulations. The increasing the safety for the community residents can be realized only by new impressive police involvement. This is the most met actions that American urban communities realize to control gang violence, because the nature of gangs is that they are not likely to follow new law regulations or public policy rules simply because they already violate them. Intensive police force may take control on street gangsters and keep neighborhood in safe. Case Study For my case study I chose Chicago and its suburb Milwaukee because those places are famous for its gang criminal history. I also find interesting that Chicago as the city has its unique place in the history of the United States. Isn`t it paradoxical that a lot of African Americans ran from the South exactly to Chicago in order to forget dark parts of their history, with a big hope of starting a new life. And they did start their new history by hard-working on the manufacturing and putting their own stone in the fundament of American industry and their light future. Who did expect at that time that with the end of industrialization almost half of their new generation youth will be involved in crimes and will become famous with its gang “ghetto” stories not only in US but in other countries. Talking about Chicago it is remarkable to suggest that the origin of modern street gangs was found there. The city is known for the organized crime syndicates in the past. Today street gangs in Chicago became a secret underground culture of the society. If before gangs were usually considered black males, today this Chicago significant subculture is becoming international involving immigrants of different minorities. Why Chicago? Why this city is significant with its gang activities? I think that Chicago plays one of the most important roles among US cities. Chicago may be a good example demonstrating social, economical, demographic and political challenges that faced the country. It is where all action took place. Chicago is an open city, it is like that anti-virus computer program that detects the threat for the whole country inside problems. Chicago passed all important development moments of the formation of American country during the 20th century. It is the city where industrialization was taking place in all its nature and process when original Chicago school administration theory had started. It is the city where political demonstration happened during the hard time of American history. It is honest to say that Chicago was always the city of immigrants and minorities introducing the whole typical picture of American demographic challenges. It always was a city of neighborhoods, where local gangs took place, demonstrating the social problem of the country. And, even today, especially the Chicago gangs example shows how violent and dangerous criminals can be to the society. According to Chicago School main traditions, the city government always gave attention to rebuilding during the deindustrialization. There was always the form of discipline in planning regarding public housing, poverty and community development. (The City Revisited, p.345) Other concern is coming from political and social problems such as effect of culture social movements, etc. Our topic attention is on second tradition of Chicago administration. The scholars group that approaches Chicago social problems is spread all over Chicago universities. Those scholars are usually doing preliminary studies by interviewing gangs confidentially. After doing research they analysis the gang behavior according to their statistics. All of those scholars have different point of view I discussed in my literature view. Based on their psychological analysis and report the new police program is developing to fight the gang violence. Starting from 1986 there were completed social studies for 5 years in the city of Chicago and Milwaukee. Local gangs were interviewed in order to determine social causes of crimes. The lack of social institutions and attention was noticed in this community. The zip code 53206 which is located in the heart of Milwaukee statistically has the biggest number of drug arrests. There is no big grocery stores, no banks of cash services, but plenty of bars. The research in 1989 showed that there was not even a single alcohol/drug treatment facility and community agencies are not located at this zip code area. (Hagedorn, 1991, p. 534) Such segmented neighborhood communities as I brought in example maybe categorized as the “underclass” communities. (Jenks, 1990, p.24) What public policies ought to be followed to stabilize the situation in Milwaukee community? The scholars of the research in Milwaukee and Chicago came to the conclusion and suggested several policy programs: First, all the money - public spending and private investment - should be concentrated in the poorest areas. Funding should not be provided to the middle class, but only the underclass neighborhoods. This may provide the finance to local agencies and strength them, the employment opportunities may also increase. The research showed that only 1% of Human Health services money was directed to the two poorest zip codes. However, the population of that area include 25% of Human Health Services clients. (Hagedorn, 1991, p.536) Second, it is not only important to spend money on those physical areas where poorest residents live and crime takes place, but it is very important to evaluate if those spendings are effective. The examination in Chicago showed that some of the bureaucratic agencies do not reach effectiveness of social programs because they simply do not keep records for the clients incomes. That means those programs did not have any positive impact on gangs or those in need. The Government agencies should be managed. Otherwise, money spent is irrational. (Schorr, 1988, p.13). Third, one of the most encouraging programs was the family fund preservation. The idea was to concentrate not on the needs of the single client but for entire family. Money was spent for the “homebuilders” projects funded by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. (Nelson 1988, p. 42) It reduced the problem of home placements and united families during the crisis. Besides those proposals, recently the new police strategies against gangs and street drug distribution were suggested. One of those suggestions was to review the old policy towards street gangs by eliminating their number. Old tactics that were successful in the past may reduce gang violence, help to prevent neighborhood from drug abuse and minimize the seriousness of gang crimes. Nevertheless, this strategy was considered ineffective by policymakers because traditional gangs presented the threat to each other, not the residential community. However, new ones increased in number and they became worse by having more weapon than before and threatening local communities. Another new approach offered by the Criminal Justice Department was to view gangster groups as the traditional well-organized crimes and use the professional tactics against them. It may include: conspiracy by engaging to criminal enterprises, the protection program for witnesses, electronic surveillance, undercover investigations, etc. (Moore and Kleiman, 1989, p.8) All of those approaches were used by Chicago police officers.

Assessment Nevertheless, a lot of programs and recommendations of the beginning of 90s were tested and used in Chicago area, the gangs problem still exists. New generation of narco dealers and gangs is living in the Chicago now. It is remarkable to say that gang issue is already politicized in the city. Of course with the new money involvement the level of poor people went one step up; however, drug selling business became tougher and worse today. In spite of the fact that since our research in 1991 more budget funds were sent to those unsuccessful neighborhoods the money did not bring much effect. One of the reasons is that local agencies were not neighborhood based and not open to its clients. Even more, Redirecting existing money from one neighborhood to the poorer one was not an easy task. Practice shows that white Chicago agencies located in downtown complained for the discrimination when money goes to other unsuccessful black neighbor agencies. (Wilson, 1998, p.15-16) When one local community gains the money other one loses.. Other important aspect is that large bureaucratic agencies are seldom concerned with formal results of the programs. So, this program did not bring the result. It is rightful to say that Chicago administration does not fasten to resolve gang issue, because gangs became “politicized” and even involving into the politics today. The gang representatives are very active during local elections by giving support for one of the candidates. The politicians from their part gain the interest as well. The crime violence may be informally regulated between gang leaders and consuls because kids narco trafficking decreases during the last decade. (Bernstein, 2008) Nevertheless, it looks like that Chicago became the city of the gangsters forever.
Conclusion
The Post-industrial era brought us the category on new generation of gangs. Some of them are involved in gang activities because of unemployment and lack of social institutions. Others are dealing with drugs to earn a big amount of money and consider gang life as the good career. No doubt, more jobs and more cops is needed today to control this unresolved and dangerous social issue. In my opinion we need to create cultural approach toward this problem. The problem of postindustrial gang violence is a crisis not only of economics but also of values. Today American subculture promotes materialism. The evidence is that gang problem became nationwide in compare with the first gang activities during the industrialization. Finally, gangs today are the symbol that something is not right in our order, something is missing. I assume that lack of spirit and right cultural values exists among new generation of Americans. Cultural crisis became the problem of many countries. As the result gang activities are the new challenges of the Globalization.
References
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