The module critically examines the policing function in society by considering the issues of power, sovereignty and democracy. The evolution of policing as a social process will be examined to arrive at an understanding of the current organizational form of policing that we are familiar with in contemporary society. Increasingly civil society is being mobilised alongside private firms to contribute to the governance in a wider governance of security. This involves the underpinning of social order by the incorporation of these wider social institutions in crime control and public safety. In this context a broad ‘community’ of actors is mobilised where once the state acted as a solitary actor. The module takes its focus from sociological theory of the state and governmentality to consider questions of nodal security governance. Changing societies and politics in the context of multiculturalism and globalisation will also be explored in terms of its impact on policing and security governance.
Overview
The Evolution of Modern Policing: concepts of ‘police’ and ‘policing’ through the ages; police as process and police as institutional structure; professionalization. Policing, Power and Democracy: Sovereignty, Legitimacy and Accountability; monopoly on violence. Cases of crises of policing in contemporary policing – e.g. Morris Tribunal and police reform.Plural Policing, Regulation and Governance – policing as a process; policing risk populations; environmental regulation and policing; financial policing, global policing.Policing, Security in the late modern state. The privatisation of risk; Fordism and Post-Fordism; Globalisation, ‘glocalisation’ and restructuring; the penalisation of poverty; the criminalisation of social policy; policing and security in the Risk Society – policing global risks; security and regulation in the context of ‘popular punitiveness’.The ‘problem of order’ in society; Sociological theory of late-modernity and post-modernity; ontological insecurity; inclusion, exclusion and social divisions; advanced marginality, ghettos and riots; citizenship, social order and social control.Understanding Nodal Governance: Network approaches to governance; the nodal governance of security; securitization of society; civilizing security through state-anchored pluralism.Policing and security in the context of social change and in geo-specific contexts: multiculturalism; diversity and social cohesion; urban security regimes in comparative terms; issues in rural security and policing.
The module will involve a mix of lecturing and activated learning through student led content; class discussion and presentation.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |