Panopticism

The Routledge Companion to Criminological Theory is a one-stop textbook-style reference, designed to introduce students to the wide range of criminological theories and conceptual themes, explaining their emergence, context, evolution and current status. Bringing together international experts in the field, this book offers a comprehensive and chronological approach to criminological theory. The book is broken into ten distinct sections charting the theoretical development of criminology from early classical and positivist approaches to the rise of American Criminology to later critical, spatial and postmodern variations. Each section contains a range of concise chapters on specific theories, covering their origin, development and discussing their proponents and critics. The book also contains chapters on specific theorists. This book offers a fresh, flexible and indispensable approach to criminological theory. Key features include: •Scene setting introductions to each section, •Clear referencing between chapters to emphasize the non-sequential character of theory, •Helpful discussion questions and a list of further reading to supplement each chapter, •A comprehensive glossary, •A supporting website that includes further exercises, web-links and instructor resources. This book is an essential reference to criminology students at all levels and is the perfect companion for courses on criminological theory