Democracy’s Disorder? Crime, Police and Citizen Responses in Transitional Societies

Image: Flickr, Bob Adams
Image: Flickr, Bob Adams

A number of countries in Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe which have undergone a transition from authoritarian rule to democracy in the last two decades have experienced similar problems of lawlessness.

Not only have levels of crime increased but comparable problems of policing and law enforcement exist, such as the spread of corruption within law enforcement agencies, excessive levels of police brutality, the loss of public confidence in the police and the growth of non-state forms of policing.

Whilst the link between political transition, economic and social change and crime is more complex than often assumed, an analysis of weakening and changing forms of social control is important to an understanding of why transitional societies are fertile grounds for criminality.

This volume explores the similarities and differences in many transitional societies with regard to crime and policing and looks at government responses and related policy dilemmas.

This publication is funded by the Ford Foundation.

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ISBN: 1-919810-50-1

The views expressed in this publication/article are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).