Beyond Criminology

Taking Harm Seriously

Edited by Dave Gordon, Paddy Hillyard, Christina Pantazis, Steve Tombs

Beyond Criminology is an innovative, groundbreaking critique of conventional criminological approaches to social issues. The contributors make a broad analysis of social harm by examining the theoretical issues and then looking at harmful organizations, policies and experiences. Using this approach, the contributors show how social harm relates to social and economic inequalities that are the heart of the liberal state. Only once we have identified the causes of social harm, they argue, can we begin to formulate possible responses, whether criminological or political. Exploring a range of topics, including violence, indifference, corporate and state harms, miscarriages of justice, gender and harm, children, asylum and immigration policies, and sexuality, the contributors offer an innovative new approach that goes beyond criminology, which should be of interest to students, teachers and policymakers.

About the Authors

Dave Gordon is Professor of Social Justice at the University of Bristol.

Paddy Hillyard is Professor of Social Administration and Policy at the University of Ulster.

Christina Pantazis is Research Fellow at the University of Bristol.

Steve Tombs is Professor of Sociology at Liverpool John Moores University.

Excerpt

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