Fifty Key Thinkers in Criminology brings the history of criminological thought alive through a collection of fascinating life stories. The book covers a range of historical and contemporary thinkers from around the world, offering a stimulating combination of biographical fact with historical and cultural context. A rich mix of life-and-times detail and theoretical reflection is designed to generate further discussion on some of the key contributions that have shaped the field of criminology. Featured profiles include:

• Cesare Beccaria
• Nils Christie
• Albert Cohen
• Carol Smart
• W. E. B. DuBois
• John Braithwaite.

Fifty Key Thinkers in Criminology is an accessible and informative guide that includes helpful cross-referencing and suggestions for further reading. It is of value to all students of criminology and of interest to those in related disciplines, such as sociology and criminal justice.

Fifty Key Thinkers in Criminology brings the history of criminological thought alive through a collection of fascinating life stories. The book covers a range of historical and contemporary thinkers from around the world, offering a stimulating combination of biographical fact with historical and cultural context. A rich mix of life-and-times detail and theoretical reflection is designed to generate further discussion on some of the key contributions that have shaped the field of criminology. Featured profiles include:

• Cesare Beccaria
• Nils Christie
• Albert Cohen
• Carol Smart
• W. E. B. DuBois
• John Braithwaite.

Fifty Key Thinkers in Criminology is an accessible and informative guide that includes helpful cross-referencing and suggestions for further reading. It is of value to all students of criminology and of interest to those in related disciplines, such as sociology and criminal justice.

To confront the challenges criminologists face today and to satisfactorily critique the theories on which criminology is founded, we need to learn from the past. To do this we must give context to both theorist and theory. Written from a critical perspective, this book brings criminological theory to life. It presents the core theories of criminology as historical and cultural products and theorists as producers of culture located in particular places, writing in specific historical periods and situated in precise intellectual networks and philosophical controversies. This book illustrates that theory does not arise 'out of the blue' and highlights the importance of understanding how and why ideas emerge at certain points in time, why they gained currency and the influence that they have had. It follows the trajectory of criminology from pre-Enlightenment society through to the present day and the proliferation of criminological thinking. It explores: Setting the Stage for the Emergence of Criminology Classicist Criminology: The Search for Justice, Equality and the Rational 'Man' The Positivist Revolution, Physiognomy, Phrenology and the Science of 'Othering' Chicago School of Sociology: An Explosion of Ideas Developing a Sociological Criminology: Durkheim, Du Bois, Merton and Tannenbaum Feminism: Redressing the Gender Imbalance Confronting the Establishment: The Emergence of Critical Criminology From Theoretical Innovations to Political Engagement The Theoretical Foundations of Criminology provides an invaluable contribution to the growing conversation about criminology's 'origin story' and the level that this is grounded in the idiosyncrasies of the North Atlantic world and its historical development. This book will be invaluable reading to students and academics engaged in studies of criminology and criminal justice.

To confront the challenges criminologists face today and to satisfactorily critique the theories on which criminology is founded, we need to learn from the past. To do this we must give context to both theorist and theory. Written from a critical perspective, this book brings criminological theory to life. It presents the core theories of criminology as historical and cultural products and theorists as producers of culture located in particular places, writing in specific historical periods and situated in precise intellectual networks and philosophical controversies. This book illustrates that theory does not arise 'out of the blue' and highlights the importance of understanding how and why ideas emerge at certain points in time, why they gained currency and the influence that they have had. It follows the trajectory of criminology from pre-Enlightenment society through to the present day and the proliferation of criminological thinking. It explores: Setting the Stage for the Emergence of Criminology Classicist Criminology: The Search for Justice, Equality and the Rational 'Man' The Positivist Revolution, Physiognomy, Phrenology and the Science of 'Othering' Chicago School of Sociology: An Explosion of Ideas Developing a Sociological Criminology: Durkheim, Du Bois, Merton and Tannenbaum Feminism: Redressing the Gender Imbalance Confronting the Establishment: The Emergence of Critical Criminology From Theoretical Innovations to Political Engagement The Theoretical Foundations of Criminology provides an invaluable contribution to the growing conversation about criminology's 'origin story' and the level that this is grounded in the idiosyncrasies of the North Atlantic world and its historical development. This book will be invaluable reading to students and academics engaged in studies of criminology and criminal justice.