Policy Press

Social Harm and Neoliberalism

Political and Philosophical Issues

By John Gregson

Published

Sep 1, 2025

Page count

208 pages

Browse the series

Studies in Social Harm

ISBN

978-1529223613

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Sep 1, 2025

Page count

208 pages

Browse the series

Studies in Social Harm

ISBN

978-1529223637

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press
Social Harm and Neoliberalism

This book links criminological, political, moral, and philosophical issues to offer a deeper understanding of the problem of social harm within the neoliberal environment.

Illustrated through case studies, John Gregson shows that social harms are a problem created not only by politics or economics, states or corporations, but also by the individualism that neoliberal societies encourage. He argues that key factors that deepen the problem of social harm include the neoliberal production of ignorance and subjectivity, along with liberal modernity itself.

John Gregson is Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Leeds Beckett University.

1. Introduction

2. Criminology and Social Harm

3. Theoretical Frameworks and Methodological Considerations

4. Explaining Neoliberalism

5. Agnotology and Social Structure

6. Governmentality and Subjectivity

7. Alasdair MacIntyre and the Critique of Liberal Modernity

8. Conclusion