Gangs and social change

Extant literature on the subject has usually defined gangs as loose associations of individuals engaged in some type of delinquent or criminal activity. Yet researchers have failed to sociologically differentiate gangs from other types of collective behavior. In contrast, this article understands gangs as organizations influenced by the social structure of the urban areas in which they operate. Concentrating on gangs in the US context, the article summarizes both common features and different forms gangs have assumed over five historical eras, arguing that gangs respond to rather than create significant social changes.