Violent Order: Essays on the Nature of Police

The book emphasizes the need to understand the relationship between the police and environmental racism in order to address racialized police violence.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 225 pages
\n Publication date: 02 September 2021
\n Publisher: Haymarket Books
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The book's radical theory of police posits that the demand for order by the police is not just a matter of maintaining social order but also a deeply racialized and patriarchal order. By asserting that the police must patrol an imaginary line between society and nature, they are able to fabricate and defend capitalist order. This involves transforming nature into an inert matter that can be exploited for accumulation. The concept of the "thin blue line" extends beyond just policing specific communities, such as the ghetto or Indian reservations. It represents a broader claim to dominance over both labor and nature. The police not only enforce social order but also actively contribute to the creation and perpetuation of environmental racism.

Understanding racialized police violence requires a comprehensive analysis that takes into account the role of the police in shaping and maintaining patterns of environmental racism. The book explores various aspects of this relationship, including the historical roots of policing, the disproportionate impact of police violence on marginalized communities, and the ways in which police practices contribute to environmental degradation.

One of the key arguments made in the book is that police violence is not just a result of individual officers' actions but is also a product of the broader social and political structures that govern society. The authors argue that police departments are often institutionally racist and that this racism is reinforced by policies, practices, and cultural norms that prioritize the protection of property and the enforcement of order over the well-being and safety of marginalized communities.

To address the issue of racialized police violence, the book offers several recommendations. These include promoting diversity and inclusion within police departments, implementing community-based policing practices, and addressing the root causes of social and economic inequality that contribute to police violence. The authors also emphasize the need for accountability and transparency in police practices, as well as the importance of engaging with and collaborating with marginalized communities to build trust and promote positive change.

In conclusion, this edited volume provides a critical examination of the role of the police in constituting and reinforcing patterns of environmental racism. By highlighting the connections between police violence, environmental degradation, and social inequality, the book offers a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about racial justice and police reform. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of race, policing, and the environment.

\n Weight: 406g\n
Dimension: 227 x 154 x 19 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781642594669\n \n