Final answer:
A structurist view attributes youth gang violence to social disorganization within communities with weakened social ties and lack of social control. The cultural ecology of a neighborhood, rather than ethnicity, has a significant influence on crime rates. Real-world events like the Ferguson unrest exemplify the practical implications of the theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
A structurist view of youth gang violence sees it as a result of social disorganization, primarily manifesting in communities with weak social ties and an absence of social control. According to this perspective, a person growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood that is characterized by high rates of drug use, violence, teenage delinquency, and poor parenting is more likely to be drawn into criminal activity. This notion is rooted in the social disorganization theory developed by researchers at the University of Chicago in the early 20th century, which emphasizes the impact of a community's social environment on the behavior of its residents.
The theory explains that crime rates are not necessarily tied to ethnicity but rather to the cultural ecology of neighborhoods. Research, such as studies mapping the impact of payday lenders on crime rates, demonstrates that various neighborhood variables strongly predict criminal behavior. Furthermore, structural violence, a concept related to social disorganization theory, describes the harm caused by societal institutions that reinforce inequality, exacerbating conditions that can lead to increased crime.
A real-life illustration of the theory in action can be observed in the aftermath of the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO. The event highlights the presence of structural conduciveness, strain, and the emergent collective behavior in response to perceived failures in social control and structural violence.