1st Edition

Crimes Against Nature Environmental Criminology and Ecological Justice

By Rob White Copyright 2008
    328 Pages
    by Willan

    328 Pages
    by Willan

    Crimes Against Nature provides a systematic account and analysis of the key concerns of green criminology, written by one of the leading authorities in the field. The book draws upon the disciplines of environmental studies, environmental sociology and environmental management as well as criminology and socio-legal studies, and draws upon a wide range of examples of crimes against the environment – ranging from toxic waste, logging, wildlife smuggling, bio-piracy, the use and transport of ozone depleting substances through to illegal logging and fishing, water pollution and animal abuse.

    The book is divided into three parts: Part 1 sets out theoretical approaches and perspectives on the subject; Part 2 explores the (national and international) dimensions of environmental crime and the explanations for it; Part 3 deals with the range of responses to environmental crime - environmental law enforcement, regulation, environmental crime prevention and the role of global institutions and movements.

    Part I: Green Theoretical Perspectives  1. Criminology and environmental harm: Environmental/green criminology.  Theoretical frameworks of environmental criminology.  Tasks of environmental criminology.  Conclusion: where to from here?  2. Social constructions of environmental problems.  Introduction: Social construction of environmental issues.  Media reporting on the environment.  Human interests and environmental problems.  Conclusion: where to from here?  3. Environmental risk and the precautionary principle.  Introduction: Dimensions of risk.  From risk to precaution.  Risk assessment and risk management.  Deliberative democracy and social participation.  Conclusion: where to from here?  Part II: Environmental Crime  4. Dimensions of environmental crime.  Introduction: Defining environmental harm.  Mapping of environmental harm.  Measuring crime, measuring consequences.  Conclusion: where to from here?  5. Transnational environmental crime.  Introduction: The problem of waste.  Waste as a social phenomenon.  The problem of biodiversity.  Conclusion: where to from here?  6. Explaining environmental harm.  Introduction: Class and corporations.  Capitalism, population and technology.  Sustainable development and commodity production.  Resource colonisation and new market creation.  Privatisation, commodification and consumption.  Licit and illicit markets and system contradictions.  Conclusion: where to from here?  Part III: Responding to Environmental Harm  7. Environmental law enforcement.  Introduction: Prosecuting environmental harm.  Limitations of criminal prosecution.  Policing and environmental law enforcement.  Conclusion: where to from here?  8. Environmental regulation.  Introduction: Systems and models of regulation.  Political context of environmental regulation.  Social power and environmental regulation.  Conclusion: where to from here?  9. Environmental crime prevention.  Introduction: Environmental crime prevention.  Harm associated with fishing.   Issues for environmental crime prevention.  Conclusion: where to from here?  10. Global environmental issues and socio-legal intervention.  Introduction: Global institutions and the neo-liberal agenda.  Working with and against the corporations.  Contesting the global commons.  Conclusion: where to from here?

    Biography

    Rob White is Professor of Criminology in the School of Sociology and Social Work at the University of Tasmania. He is also Director of both the Criminology Research Unit and the Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies.

    'Rob White has done an excellent job. There is currently no single book on the market written by one person for and about green criminology that has the comprehensive depth and interconnections offered by this book. It is, in this respect, a truly remarkable achievement.'Professor Michael Lynch, University of South Florida, USA