EBOOK What is Criminology?

Criminology is a booming discipline, yet one which can appear divided and        fractious. In this rich and diverse collection of 34 essays, some of the worlds        leading criminologists respond to a series of questions designed to investigate the        state, impact and future challenges of the discipline: What is criminology for? What        is the impact of criminology? How should criminology be done? What are the key        issues and debates in criminology today? What challenges does the discipline        ofcriminology face? How has criminology as a discipline changed over the last few        decades?The resulting essays identify a series of intellectual, methodological and        ideological borders. Borders, in criminology as elsewhere, are policed, yet they are        also frequently transgressed; criminologists can and do move across them to plunder,        admire, or learn from other regions. While some boundaries may be more difficult or        dangerous to cross than others it is rare to find an entirely secluded locale or        community.In traversing ideological, political, geographical and disciplinary        borders, criminologists bring training, tools and concepts, as well as key texts to        share with foreigners. From such exchanges, over time, borders may break down,        shift, or spring up, enriching those who take the journey and those who are visited.          It is, in other words, in criminologys capacity for and commitment to reflexivity,        on which the strength of the field depends.