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Anthropology of Crime

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Deniz Yonucu

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Abstract

Unlike legal frameworks that define crime strictly as the violation of the law as an established fact, anthropological approaches take a broader perspective. Anthropologists explore how different societies and cultures conceptualize crime situating it within its wider social context and examining how various communities define and interpret acts of transgression. While early anthropological approaches were shaped by colonial, racist, and classist ideologies, the field has undergone significant evolution during the late 20th century. Foundational studies on sorcery and witchcraft provided early insights into crime, social control, morality, and non-legal orders, setting the stage for more critical approaches. Today, anthropology challenges normative biases that disproportionately associate marginalised groups—such as people of colour, immigrants, the urban poor, and queer and trans individuals—with criminality. These biases, rooted in structural inequalities, influence law enforcement practices and public perceptions, perpetuating discrimination and inequity. Contemporary scholarship seeks to challenge these perceptions, exposing their harms and advocating for more equitable understandings of crime and justice.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Yonucu D

Publication type: Book Chapter

Publication status: In Press

Book Title: Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Anthropology

Year: 2025

Acceptance date: 01/11/2024

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Place Published: Oxford


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