the “death” macguffin redux: comments on best

Abstract

In commenting on my critique of the “deviance is dead” thesis ( Goode, 2003 Goode, Erich . 2003. “The MacGuffin that Refuses to Die: An Investigation into the Condition of the Sociology of Deviance.”. Deviant Behavior, 24: 507–33. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] [Google Scholar] ), Joel Best (in this issue) makes several points which seem shaky. Examined critically–and agreeing that the field has declined during the past 20 years in creativity and influence on sociology generally–the sociology of deviance is far from “dead.” In fact, as indicated by a number of measures, its health is as robust as ever. Here, I grapple with the conundrum of why the “death” myth is so widely accepted among sociologists. It is possible that the field's political incorrectness may provide an explanation to this mystery.