Regulation and Social Control of Incivilities

"European criminal policy is characterized by both inclusive and exclusive tendencies. The heritage of enlightenment and the post-World War II revival of fundamental rights allow elements of inclusive criminal policy survive on the old Continent. That however does not prevent, rather mitigates control societies’ exclusive tendencies, which can be traced in occupying territories both upwards by blurring the line between the war against terrorism and criminal justice and downwards, through a remarkable societal readiness to demand legal and – more often than not – penal law solutions for incivilities. The volume edited by Nina Peršak is an elegant attempt to document and analyze these latter disturbing tendencies in contemporary Europe. The multi-layered and interdisciplinary nature of the problem is mirrored by methodology: the volume is scientifically embedded into criminology, political science, sociology and criminal law; is characterized by a balanced representation of European states; and an equally fair proportioning of country analyses, empirical research and theory."

Petra Bárd, Senior Researcher and Head of the Criminal Law Division, National Institute of Criminology, Hungary; Assistant Professor, ELTE School of Law, Hungary; and Visiting Professor, Central European University, Hungary

"This book is an important addition to the literature on the control of 'incivilities' - understood broadly as contested uses of, and presences in, public spaces. It reminds us of the fine line between targeting behaviours of others, and targeting others for what or who they are. From homelessness in Hungary to political protest in Spain, the measure of acceptability of behaviour in public increasingly becomes its potential for causing feelings of discomfort in others. Keenly observed trends in different European countries provide illustrative detail of a growing trend of low-level suppression that redraws the boundaries of ownership of public spaces."

Antje du Bois-Pedain, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law and Deputy Director of the Centre for Penal Theory and Penal Ethics at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, UK