Social Control and Political Order: European Perspectives at the End of the Century

Social control is a key concept within sociology, arguably one of the most important. This vibrant collection of essays offers a profound and timely assessment of issues surrounding this concept and indicates its significance for the new political orders developing in contemporary Europe. Contributors debate the issues relating to the future of social control from a range of perspectives. They outline its history and politics in both Anglo-American sociology and the Hispanic world, discuss the weaknesses of the concept, and assess its relevance for contemporary Europe. Social Control and Political Order provides an in-depth examination of the debates on the possibilities and problems for social control as a core sociological concept. This will be essential reading for students and academics in political science, criminology, sociology, and legal studies.

Roberto Bergalli is Professor of Law at the University of Barcelona. He has published widely on the sociology of law, and has been the Scientific Director of the O[ti]nati International Institute of the Sociology of Law.

Colin Sumner is Professor of Law at the University of East London, and his publications include: Reading Ideologies; Censure, Politics and Criminal Justice and The Sociology of Deviance.

CONTRIBUTORS

Henner Hess Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universitat Frankfurt

Dario Melossi University of Bologna

Massimo Pavarini University of Bologna

Sebastian Scheerer University of Hamburg