Harmful Societies: Understanding Social Harm

by Simon A. Pemberton

Overview

While the notion of social harm has long interested critical criminologists it is now being explored as an alternative field of study, which provides more accurate analyses of the vicissitudes of life.

However, important aspects of this notion remain undeveloped, in particular the definition of social harm, the question of responsibility and the methodologies for studying harm. This book, the first to theorise and define the social harm concept beyond criminology, seeks to address these omissions and questions why some capitalist societies appear to be more harmful than others. In doing so it provides a platform for future debates, in this series and beyond.

It will be a valuable resource for academics and researchers across criminology, sociology, social policy, socio-legal studies and geography.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781847427953
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	05/01/2016
Series:	Studies in Social Harm
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Simon Pemberton is a Birmingham Fellow jointly appointed to the Schools of Law and Social Policy at the University of Birmingham. He has researched and published widely in the areas of corporate and state harm, poverty and inequality, crime, social harm and criminalisation.

Table of Contents

Introduction; Defining social harm; Capitalist formations and the production of harm; Harm reduction regimes and the production of physical harm; Harm reduction regimes and the production of autonomy and relational harms; Harm reduction regimes, neoliberalism and the production of harm

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Simon Pemberton’s groundbreaking volume provides a major step forward in understanding the causation and alleviation of widespread harm." Danny Dorling, University of Oxford

“In a sense, criminology has been ‘waiting’ for this original and highly topical book. It is of theoretical, conceptual, methodological and empirical significance, making novel contributions in each respect.” Steve Tombs, The Open University

Editorial Reviews

In a sense, criminology has been ‘waiting’ for this original and highly topical book. It is of theoretical, conceptual, methodological, and empirical significance, making novel contributions in each respect.

Steve Tombs

Pemberton’s groundbreaking volume provides a major step forward in understanding the causation and alleviation of widespread harm.

Danny Dorling

The scope of this book is brave, almost breathtaking. . . . It is the scale and scope of what is attempted here that puts much criminology, and indeed much social science, in its place.

Centre for Crime and Justice Studies