This book explores the work of criminologist Colin Sumner. It re-presents his arguments and ideas on Marxism, ideology, censure, deviance, crime, underdevelopment, social control and the media; situating them in their wider social context. Moxon argues that Sumner should be restored within the criminology discipline as a pioneer who has produced works of great theoretical sophistication and insight. By systematically considering Sumner’s entire output, the book shows how his thought involved a gradually deepening understanding of his core notion of ideological censure. His writing is also marked by a growing unease with the effects of late modern capitalism and the quagmire of censoriousness rife in the 21st century. This book makes clear that Sumner’s work was remarkably prescient, and his ideas may help up to make sense of complicated times.
Author(s): David Moxon
Series: Palgrave Pioneers In Criminology
Publisher: Palgrave Pivot
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 159
Tags: Critical Criminology
Acknowledgements......Page 6
Contents......Page 8
Chapter 1: Introduction......Page 9
References......Page 12
Chapter 2: Sumner and Ideological Censure......Page 13
Context......Page 14
Marxism......Page 15
Socio-Legal Studies......Page 16
Criminology......Page 19
Sumner’s Concept of Ideological Censure......Page 24
Ideology......Page 26
Censure......Page 31
To Cambridge......Page 39
References......Page 41
Chapter 3: After Censure......Page 46
Sumner as Critic......Page 48
Sumner as Theorist of Underdevelopment......Page 57
Sumner as Media Analyst......Page 60
Sumner as Theorist of Censure......Page 62
Shifting Sands......Page 67
References......Page 69
Chapter 4: Sumner and the Death of Deviance......Page 74
The Obituary in Brief......Page 76
Part One......Page 77
Part Two......Page 79
Part Three......Page 82
Observations on the Obituary......Page 86
References......Page 89
Chapter 5: After the Death of Deviance......Page 93
Continued Theoretical Development......Page 95
Censure in the Textbooks......Page 99
A Return to Old Themes......Page 103
A Retirement of Sorts......Page 105
The Continuing Controversy over the Obituary......Page 111
References......Page 114
Chapter 6: Sumner and the Looking Glass......Page 118
Censure and the 2011 Riots......Page 120
Measure for Measure......Page 123
A Return to First Principles......Page 126
Through the Looking Glass......Page 131
References......Page 134
Chapter 7: After Sumner?......Page 137
Sumner’s Work as a Cumulative Project......Page 138
A Commitment to Theory......Page 140
Sumner and Marxism......Page 141
Towards Moral Renewal?......Page 144
Sumner’s Influence......Page 145
The Future......Page 146
References......Page 147
Works by Colin Sumner......Page 151
Index......Page 157
