Keywords in Criminology

Book excerpt: Taking inspiration from the classic text by Raymond Williams, Keywords in Criminology reflects on the language used by criminologists and offers a one‐stop guide to core concepts in the discipline. Written for the budding Criminology student, it offers a specialized but plain dictionary for a specialized discipline. From Abolitionism to Xenophobia, the entries unveil the ambiguities and conflicting interpretations of the concepts discussed, and explore their historical context, their analytical use, adoption or critical rejection. The original formulation of each concept is examined along with the practices the concept has shaped, and the favourable and unfavourable outcomes it has generated. Keywords in Criminology is a handy and pithy companion for any Criminology student. It offers excellent supplementary reading for core courses on criminological, social and cultural theory.