Violent Order: Essays on the Nature of Police

The book "The Police and the Environment" explores how the police demand for order is a class order and a racialized and patriarchal order, and how they patrol an imaginary line between society and nature, transforming nature into inert matter for accumulation. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the role of police in constituting and reinforcing patterns of environmental racism in order to understand racialized police violence.

Format: Hardback
Length: 225 pages
Publication date: 18 November 2021
Publisher: Haymarket Books

The book presents a groundbreaking theory of police that delves into the intricate dynamics of power and control. It argues that the demand for order by the police is not merely a matter of maintaining social order but is also rooted in class, racial, and patriarchal structures. By asserting that the police project is essential in fabricating and defending capitalist order, they must establish an imaginary boundary between society and nature. This boundary involves transforming nature into an inert matter that can be exploited for accumulation.

It is important to note that the police's sphere of influence extends beyond urban ghettos and Indian reservations. The concept of the "thin blue line" encompasses a broader notion of police dominance, extending to labor and nature itself. The police not only patrol these areas but also assert a general claim to dominance over both.

Furthermore, the book emphasizes that police and police violence are not merely incidental or isolated incidents but are integral modes of environment-making. They shape the physical and social landscapes, perpetuating patterns of environmental racism and inequality.

To fully comprehend the complexities of racialized police violence, this edited volume argues that it is crucial to examine the role of the police in constituting and reinforcing patterns of environmental racism. It highlights the need for a comprehensive and intersectional approach that takes into account the social, economic, and political factors that contribute to these patterns.

In conclusion, the book's radical theory of police offers a profound analysis of the power dynamics at play within the police force. It sheds light on the ways in which the police perpetuate class, racial, and patriarchal inequalities, while also asserting their dominance over labor and nature. By recognizing the role of the police in constituting and reinforcing patterns of environmental racism, we can work towards creating a more just and equitable society.

Dimension: 215 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781642595086