Punishment and Modern Society: A Study in Social Theory

by David Garland

This wide-ranging study provides the first comprehensive account of the forms, functions, and significance of punishment in modern society. Arguing that penal institutions are social and cultural artefacts as well as techniques of crime control, the book explores the ways in which penality interacts with a variety of social forces, including strategies of power, socio-economic structures, and cultural sensibilities.In constructing his multi-dimensional account, the author re-assesses the interpretations of punishment offered by the Durkheimian, Marxist, and Foucauldian traditions, and goes on to add a more explicitly cultural reading of his own, drawing upon recent work in cultural anthropology and the ideas of Weber and Elias. Throughout the study, the insights of social and historical theory are brought to bear upon the details of contemporary penal practice in a way which illustrates both the particularities of punishing and the general character of modern society.The resulting synthesis is a major achievement which will allow sociologists and historians to gain a better understanding of this complex social institution and will help policy-makers to develop more realistic and appropriate objectives in the field of penal policy.

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Theory, History, Academic, Politics

312 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 1990

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

David Garland is the Arthur T. Vanderbilt Professor of Law and Professor of Sociology at New York University. He is the author of the award-winning studies Punishment and Welfare and Punishment and Modern Society.

Reviews

[A. Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good overview of the sociology of punishment. It provides a coherent analysis of social theories of punishment and draws links between these theories. Garland is amazing at standing at some distance from the theory and presenting a broad story about these theories and the implications for understanding punishment today.

[Jacquie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Garland does an excellent job of proving summaries of major works in the fields of criminology, philosophy, and sociology that have shaped our understanding of punishment and social control. He also introduces his own critiques to each work and improves them with the culture concept, which is no small feat. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a historical account of theories of punishment and a new addition to these beliefs.

[Paco · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great textbook, as advertised. A good review of the different schools of thought around social theory of punishment. He did a great job of putting everything in context and including critiques and connections, but I didn’t love his attempt to put it all together into his own theory at the end.

[Michael McCluskey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, great subject. Not for the layman. :)