Ten percent of the world’s population lives on islands, but until now the place and space characteristics of islands in criminological theory have not been deeply considered.
A new book by John Scott and Zoe Staines draws on diverse literature, including popular culture, historical and philosophical texts to create a criminology of remote places. The book moves beyond the question of whether islands have more, or less, crime than other places, and instead addresses issues of how, and by whom, crime is defined in island settings, which crimes are policed and visible, and who is subject to regulation. These questions are informed by ‘the politics of place and belonging’ and the distinctive social networks and normative structures of island communities.
Early reviews of the book have been positive.
Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt, University of Technology Sydney states:
“Insightful, analytical and compassionate, Scott and Staines give voice to the most marginalized, shedding light on the complex dynamics of colonization and policing in the remotest parts of the world. This is a must- read on an under-researched topic. A story that needs to be told and heard.”
Emeritus Professor Nigel South, University of Essex has highlighted the books contributions to green criminology, observing:
“Immensely readable, deeply sociological, and charting a course for a whole new area of criminological inquiry, this is a book that reminds us what makes ‘a space a place’ and how history makes some places a paradise and others a prison.”
Professor John Scott is Head of School, QUT School of Justice
Dr Zoe Staines is a Senior ARC DECRA Research Fellow and Leader of the Inequalities and Social Action Research Cluster within the School of Social Science, University of Queensland.
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