How understanding the crimes of the elite contributes to criminology
The approriate object of study for the discipline of criminology has always been the subject of debate. In the francophone literature the discipline has historically been divided into two paradigms – the etiology of the act and its social construction – but in recent years new theories of transgressive behaviour have emerged. This article argues that research on white-collar crime has enriched the science of criminology by investigating the unclear boundaries between lawful and unlawful conduct and suggesting new ways to respond to transgressions. The article concludes by exploring the heuristic value of the concept of “illegalism” developed by Michel Foucault, which makes it possible to combine analysis of transgressive behaviors and the social responses to these behaviors, thereby overcoming Alvaro Pires’ objection of paradox.