Understanding Criminology : Current Theoretical Debates

by Walklate, Sandra

• ISBN13: 9780335209514
• ISBN10: 0335209513
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-03-01
• Publisher: Open University Press

Summary

What does contemporary criminological theory look like? What impact does it have on policy? What might its future be? This substantially revised and updated text provides the student with an accessible understanding of the current nature of criminological theory. Its main focus is on development in criminological theorising over the past twenty-five years paying particular attention to 'right realism', 'left realism' and developments arising from the influence of theorising around gender. The relationship of criminological theory and knowledge to current policy agendas is given particular attention in this second edition, and a key concern of the text is to paint a picture for the student of the complex interplay between criminology, criminal justice, social justice and politics. The author concludes by offering an insight into some of the theoretical concerns that might better inform the future development of criminological theory. In all, this represents an ideal theoretical text for students of criminology and trainees in criminal justice, including clear summaries, an expanded glossary and suggestions for further reading.

Author Biography

Sandra Walklate is Professor of Sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Table of Contents

Series editor's foreword	viii
Preface and acknowledgements	x
Introduction: understanding some key features of criminology	1	(14)
Some domain assumptions within criminology as a discipline	1	(1)
Criminology and the Enlightenment	2	(3)
How to define the criminal	5	(1)
What influences talk about crime?	6	(1)
What do we know about crime?	7	(2)
What is known about criminal victimization?	9	(1)
Criminology, politics and criminal justice policy	10	(3)
Conclusion: what are the key features of criminology?	13	(1)
Further reading	14	(1)
Perspectives in criminological theory	15	(18)
The behaviour of criminals	16	(3)
Classical criminology	16	(1)
Positivist criminology	17	(2)
The criminality of behaviour	19	(5)
Social disorganization	19	(2)
Strain theory	21	(2)
Labelling theory	23	(1)
The criminality of the state	24	(7)
Marxist criminology	25	(3)
Radical criminology	28	(1)
Critical criminology	29	(2)
Conclusion	31	(1)
Further reading	32	(1)
Understanding `right realism'	33	(15)
Socio-biological explanations: the work of Wilson and Herrnstein	34	(3)
Rational choice theory	37	(2)
The routine activity approach	39	(2)
Administrative criminology	41	(2)
Right realism: a critique	43	(2)
Conclusion	45	(2)
Further reading	47	(1)
Understanding `left realism'	48	(25)
What is `left realism'?	49	(6)
Left realism UK style: a critique	55	(9)
The question of methodology	56	(4)
The question of policy	60	(2)
The question of feminism	62	(2)
Left realism US style	64	(3)
The problem of modernism	67	(2)
Left realism and New Labour: politics, policy and process	69	(1)
Conclusion	70	(2)
Further reading	72	(1)
Gendering the criminal	73	(22)
The gender blindness of criminology	74	(1)
Feminism and criminology	75	(5)
Liberal feminism	75	(1)
Radical feminism	76	(1)
Socialist feminism	77	(2)
Post-modern feminism	79	(1)
Feminisms and criminology: contradictions in terms?	80	(1)
Ways of thinking about men within criminology	81	(1)
Sex role theory and criminology	81	(4)
Categorical theory and criminology	85	(2)
Doing gender as criminology	87	(2)
Biography and the psychoanalytical turn	89	(1)
Reflections on masculinity and criminology	90	(1)
Summary: gendering the criminal or gendering criminology?	91	(2)
Conclusion	93	(1)
Further reading	94	(1)
Crime, politics and welfare	95	(21)
Understanding the welfare state	96	(4)
Why is it important to understand the relationship between the citizen and the state?	100	(1)
Gender, crime and poverty	101	(3)
Conceptions of the family, the underclass and crime	104	(7)
Why is understanding the family important?	105	(2)
The underclass and crime	107	(4)
New Labour, new policies? Young people and crime	111	(3)
Conclusion: questions for criminology	114	(1)
Further reading	115	(1)
Criminal victimization, politics and welfare	116	(24)
What is victimology?	117	(1)
Positivist victimology	117	(3)
Radical victimology	120	(1)
Critical victimology	121	(4)
A challenging victimology?	125	(1)
Exploring repeat victimization	126	(3)
Victim policy in the new millennium	129	(7)
The reorientation of the probation service	130	(2)
The victim personal statement scheme	132	(1)
Restorative justice	133	(3)
Conclusion: criminal victimization and social responsibility	136	(2)
Further reading	138	(2)
Conclusions: new directions for criminology?	140	(16)
Positivism, modernism and gender	141	(2)
Gender, race and class	143	(2)
Criminology and risk	145	(3)
Criminology and trust	148	(4)
Criminology, the citizen and the state	152	(2)
Criminology, political economy and social capital	154	(1)
Conclusion	155	(1)
Glossary	156	(3)
References	159	(10)
Index	169