Nine Years After The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Evaluating Consequences In a State-Corporate Crime FrameworkFRAMEWORK

On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded after a series of issues with the Macondo oil well, around the Louisiana coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, causing the death of 11 workers and wounding 17 others. On April 22, the rig sank into the ocean. Large quantities of oil have then poured into the Gulf waters for almost 3 months, causing the most serious oil spill in history. The event is critically examined in relation to the State-corporate crime integrated theoretical model by Michalowski and Kramer (2006), in particular using the institutional level (the relationship between politics and economics) and the operationality of control catalyst (the presence or absence of social control). The results are presented with a deductive strategy. Furthermore, part of the long-term consequences on the environment will be presented, using a deductive thematic strategy. I believe, in order to comprehend the importance of this study field and the relevance of my work, it is necessary to fully analyze the long-term consequences of the DWH (Deepwater Horizon) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The analysis is developed within a case study, based on a literature review. Results show that not only the long-term consequences of the oil spill on the environment are devastating on almost all the elements studied, but that the role of the State in the accident was decisive, especially for the work culture which developed during the years, that led to the accident