Paper Summary:

This paper summarizes eco-critical theory and its relevance to criminology. The paper defines eco-critical theory as including, but not limited to, anthropology, criminology, Marxism, and feminism. The paper explains that its unifying theme is its concern with humans' destruction of eco-systems, provoking questions of environmental rights, environmental justice, environmental victimization, and environmental criminality. In addition, the paper notes, the focus of this theory is largely on individuals' environmental rights, including the right to consume safe food, to breathe clean air, to have unpolluted water, and to work in safe conditions. The paper concludes that eco-critical theory is a structural level theory, rooted in the green perspective; it has much to offer criminology, as most criminological theories are micro-level explanations. This paper contains an illustrative figure.

Outline:
Introduction
Eco-Critical Theory
A Green Perspective for Criminology
References

From the Paper:

"Generally, eco-critical theory is informed by an ecological perspective, and it is critical in that it includes a political analysis that deconstructs hegemonic, political, economic, philosophical, and cultural belief systems within the ecological perspective (Koser-Wilson, 1999). The theory assumes that once these belief systems have been deconstructed, they must be re-created, consistent with the principles of natural systems in order to produce effective environmental policies. Conversely, environmental policy will not be successful unless it is eco-critically informed. As a political/critical and ecological theory, eco-critical theory generally asks which individuals benefit from particular environmental policies and which do not have a stake or have something to lose (Koser-Wilson, 1999). The answers to this question largely determine who commits crimes against the environment, what form(s) the destruction takes, and why it occurred."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Agnew, R. (1998). The causes of animal abuse: a social-psychological analysis. Theoretical Criminology, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 177-209.
• Benton, T. (1998). Rights and justice on a shared planet: more rights or new relations?Theoretical Criminology, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 149-175.
• Bullard, R.D. (ed.) (1993). Confronting environmental racism: voices from the grassroots. South End Press: Boston.
• Frank, N. and Lynch, M.J. (1992). Corporate crime, corporate violence. Harrow andHeston: New York.
• Koser-Wilson, N. (1999). Eco-critical theory: an introduction. Criminal Justice PolicyReview, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 155-160.

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