Policy Press

Harmful Societies

Understanding Social Harm

By Simon A. Pemberton

Published

Mar 23, 2016

Page count

224 pages

Browse the series

Studies in Social Harm

ISBN

978-1847427953

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Mar 11, 2015

Page count

224 pages

Browse the series

Studies in Social Harm

ISBN

978-1847427946

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Mar 23, 2016

Page count

224 pages

Browse the series

Studies in Social Harm

ISBN

978-1447321248

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Mar 23, 2016

Page count

224 pages

Browse the series

Studies in Social Harm

ISBN

978-1447321255

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press
Harmful Societies

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.

"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

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.

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