From Social Harm to Zemiology: A Critical Introduction (New Directions in Critical Criminology)

This book outlines key developments in understanding social harm by setting out its historical foundations and the discussions which have proliferated since. It examines various attempts to conceptualise social harm and highlights key sites of contestation in its relationship to criminology to argue that these act as the basis for an activist zemiology, one directed towards social change for social justice. The past two decades have seen a proliferation of debate related to social harm in and around criminology. From climate catastrophe and a focus on environmental harms, unprecedented deaths generating focus on border harms and the coronavirus pandemic revealing the horror of mass and arguably avoidable deaths across the globe, critical studies in social harm appear ever more pressing. Drawing on a range of international case studies of cultural, emotional, physical and economic harms, __From Social Harm to Zemiology__ locates the study of social harm in an accessible fashion. In doing so it sets out how a zemiological lens can moves us beyond many of the problematic legacies of criminology. This book rejects criminologies which have disproportionately served to regulate intersectional groups, and which have arguably inflicted as much or more harm by bolstering the very ideologies of control in offering minor reforms that inadvertently expand and strengthen states and corporations. It does this by sketching out the contours, objects, methods and ontologies of a disciplinary framework which rejects commonplace assumptions of ‘value freedom’. __From Social Harm to Zemiology__ advocates social change in accordance with groups who are most disenfranchised, and thus often most socially harmed. An accessible and compelling read, this book is essential reading for all zemiologists, critical criminologists, and those engaged with criminological and social theory. "This book outlines key developments in understanding social harm by setting out its historical foundations and the discussions which have proliferated since. It examines various attempts to conceptualise social harm and highlights key sites of contestation in its relationship to criminology to argue that these act as the basis for an activist zemiology, one directed towards social change for social justice. The past two decades has seen a proliferation of debate related to social harm in and around criminology. From climate catastrophe and a focus on environmental harms, unprecedented deaths generating focus on border harms, and the coronavirus pandemic revealing the horror of mass and arguably avoidable deaths across the globe, critical studies in social harm appear ever more pressing. From Social Harm to Zemiology locates the study of social harm in an accessible fashion, drawing on a range of international case studies of cultural, emotional, physical and economic harms. In doing so it sets out how a zemiological lens can moves us beyond many of the problematic legacies of criminology. This book rejects criminologies which have disproportionately served to regulate intersectional groups, and which have arguably inflicted as much or more harm by bolstering the very ideologies of control in offering minor reforms that inadvertently expand and strengthen states and corporations. It does this by sketching out the contours, objects, methods and ontologies of a disciplinary framework which rejects commonplace assumptions of 'value freedom'. From Social Harm to Zemiology advocates social change in accordance with groups who are most disenfranchised, and thus often most socially harmed. An accessible and compelling read, this book is essential reading for all zemiologists, critical criminologists, and those engaged with criminological and social theory"-- Provided by publisher Cover Endorsement Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Table of contents Figures Tables Boxes Preface Acknowledgements Introduction: Social harm matters Do we really need another ‘ology’? Aims and structure References 1 Understanding social harm Introduction Haunted by ‘the criminal man’? Case study example: policing dangerous dogs, Lombroso style What is a ‘criminal’? Case study: the unequal distribution of criminalisation and control Beyond ‘crime’ Contesting assumptions of ‘crime’ Beyond criminology From crime to social harm Notes References 2 Towards social harm and zemiology Introduction Beyond criminology – but to where? Case study example: excess winter deaths Responses to the shift ‘beyond’ criminology Critical criminology, social harm and zemiology What is harm? ‘Knowing’ social harm Beyond the individual Conclusion References 3 A provisional typology of harm Introduction A typology of harm? Physical harms Emotional and psychological harms Financial and economic harms Cultural harms Harms of recognition Autonomy harms A complex of social harm: border controls in Europe and the United Kingdom Conclusion Note References 4 The relations and ontologies of harm Introduction Harms as relational Time, space and place Racialised harms Gendered harms Environmental harms Humanocentric harms The ontological bases of harm? Conclusion References 5 Doing zemiology Introduction What might zemiologists research? Language and knowledge claims Some principles of zemiological investigation Ethics, harm, politics Mitigating harm for researchers Studying-up Being creative Conclusion Notes References Conclusion: Activist zemiology for social justice Introduction Rejecting the myth of value freedom Choosing activist zemiology Zemiology, social harm, social justice References Index