René Girard and Criminal Justice: Demythologizing the Victim

Aaron Pycroft

Research output: Book/ReportBook

Abstract

This book highlights the significance of René Girard's work for key criminological debates to provide new perspectives. Girard explores the causes of violence in humans and his work is used to interpret cultural phenomena related to criminology and victimology. The book focuses in particular on Girard’s cultural anthropology of the victim as being foundational to social order. The scapegoat mechanism, as developed by Girard, is an anthropological reading of myth which provides a site of rich dialogue with criminology, victimology, theology and philosophy. The book explores how this provides readers with ontological, epistemological and methodological tools for both explaining and changing the practices of justice.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Number of pages142
Edition1st
ISBN (Electronic)9783031824715
ISBN (Print)9783031824708
Publication statusAccepted for publication - 1 Dec 2024

Publication series

NamePalgrave Pioneers in Criminology
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
ISSN (Print)2946-563X
ISSN (Electronic)2946-5648

Keywords

  • René Girard
  • criminology theory
  • victimology
  • structuralism
  • post-structuralism
  • complexity theory
  • quantum theory
  • Christian theology
  • haecceitas
  • peacemaking
  • literary theory
  • cultural anthropology
  • social order
  • chaos
  • theology
  • critical criminology
  • justice
  • philosphy
  • child sexual abuse
  • massacre
  • scapegoating
  • punishment
  • violence
  • ethics of institutions

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