Book Review: Historical Criminology
| Author | LIZZIE SEAL |
| Published date | 01 October 2022 |
| Date | 01 October 2022 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/09646639221100491 |
| Subject Matter | Book Reviews |
use of the phrase “reproductive justice”as opposed to phrases such as reproductive rights
and pro-choice. It captures issues such as the co-opting of such labels by groups that do
not agree with its core aims, but also goes further in placing the concept within its socio-
political context. The focus within this piece and throughout the entire collection on the
work of activists and the power and importance of legal activism is both welcome and
noteworthy. Chapter 42 specifically considers the work of the Sister Song Women of
Colour Collective. It thereby highlights the limitations embedded in a “reproductive
rights”or human rights approach to these issues by examining how reproductive
justice means more than simply being legally able to abort a pregnancy. In doing so,
its analysis raises the important connection with socio-economic rights such as access
to affordable healthcare and the need for any analysis of reproductive rights to consider
matters of local infrastructure and resources. This chapter is merely one example of the
potential for this volume to stretch and challenge students’understandings of issues, con-
cepts and approaches within socio-legal studies.
Given the clear and abundant strengths of this collection, it is also important to con-
sider any limitations. One concern that did emerge throughout the piece was whether the
text potentially creates an “echo chamber”of views that cluster between liberal and
left-leaning positions on the political spectrum. This is, of course, not to suggest that
the volume should offer any kind of platform to extreme or offensive views that would
undermine the progressive and thoughtful nature of its contributions. However, it is as
important to showcase disagreement as it is consensus.
Returning to the principle against which this volume is to be measured –whether it
exposes law and social science students to the study of law and society –it undoubtedly
provides a thoroughly global journey through law and society scholarship. It was truly a
pleasure to read and review the book as a whole. Readers are likely to dip in and out of the
material within this collection, and select only those materials relevant to their studies or
to their teaching. However, it is entirely possible and indeed enjoyable to consume the
volume in its entirety. Readers are to be assured that doing so is likely to be an incredibly
rewarding endeavour, as the volume is a thought provoking stock-take of the variety and
quality of law and society scholarship originating from law schools across the globe, and
is a credit to the impressive efforts of the volume editors and authors alike.
CARL MAKIN
ORCID iD
Carl Makin https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7952-3637
DAVID CHURCHILL, HENRY YEOMANS AND IAIN CHANNING, Historical Criminology.
London: Routledge, 2021, pp. 220, ISBN: 9780367185756, £26.39 (ppk).
Recently, long after it was hailed as one of the greatest TV shows of all time, I watched all
five seasons of The Wire. Created by David Simon and set in contemporaneous
800 Social & Legal Studies 31(5)
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