Crime, Violence and Modernity: Connecting Classical and Contemporary Practice in Sociological Criminology

This book challenges the division of labor in criminology and sociology and explores three areas of current criminological inquiry through the lens of the long-term, process-oriented, and radically relational perspective of contemporary Weberian and Eliasian scholarship. It appeals to students and scholars of criminology, sociology, and all those interested in what a sociological lens brings to the practices of contemporary criminology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking book makes a pioneering effort to reestablish the connection between criminological inquiry and the fundamental principles of the classical sociological imagination, as well as the rich intellectual resources of comparative and historical sociology. Throughout the book, Hughes vigorously challenges the longstanding division of labor in criminology and sociology, emphasizing the importance of integrating theory, method, and research. The author's primary concerns lie in the craft and working methods of being a sociological criminologist, as well as in developing innovative theories and concepts.

In the first half of the book, the author outlines the key conceptual and methodological premises of the classical sociological tradition, assessing its potential for revitalizing contemporary criminological research-theorizing. These chapters also delve into the debate surrounding the relationship between crime and violence, as well as the interplay between modernity and the Western 'civilizing process.'

In the second half of the book, the author explores three areas of current criminological inquiry through the lens of the long-term, process-oriented, and radically relational perspective of contemporary Weberian and Eliasian scholarship. These areas of comparative investigation include street crime, gangs and urban violence, genocide and murderous ethnic cleansing, warfare, colonialism, and human rights.

Written in a clear and direct style, this book appeals to students and scholars of criminology, sociology, and all those interested in exploring the unique insights that a sociological lens can bring to the practices of contemporary criminology.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367768942