1st Edition

Social Changes, Crime and Police International Conference June 1– 4, 1992 Budapest, Hungary

Edited By Louise Shelley, József Vigh Copyright 1995

    Originally published in 1995, Social Changes, Crime and the Police studies the relationship of social change and crime, the role of the police amidst changing social conditions, and the reaction of society and the state to the criminal problem. It examines the essential differences and challenges which confronted countries in Western and Eastern Europe after the collapse of the socialist system.

    In recent years, many areas of Europe had experienced a period of rapid technological development which had changed economic and cultural structures, creating temporary instability. Within a relatively short period of time traditional values and beliefs had been undermined. National boundaries and geographical differences had gradually lost their significance and the opening of frontiers had created easier conditions for crime. The nature of crime itself had been transformed by the increasingly close relationships between countries.

    While many Eastern European countries sought to undo the authoritarian legacies of the socialist period, Western Europe faced new challenges to its urban order.

    The editors and the contributors also examine the kinds of new policing concepts which may be formulated and the new practices which may develop during the next few decades. Governments must determine the role of the police and the law in accordance with public demands for powerful policing combined with consideration of the individual’s rights, thus maintaining the vital balance between personal freedom and social peace.

    Foreword.  Opening Speech Péter BorossTopic I.  Social Changes, Crime and Police – Introductory Report József Vigh.  The British Policing Tradition: Model or Myth? Robert Reiner.  Human Rights and the Right of the Police to Use Physical Force Knut SveriTopic II.  The Effect of Social Changes Upon Crime Uwe Ewald.  Emerging Problems of Official Social Control in Finland Kauko Aromaa.  Criminal Violence in Modern Brazilian Society Sergio Adorno.  Social Changes, Crime and Police in the Former GDR – Now a Part of the United Germany Erich Buchholz.  Problems of Controlling Organizational Crime Ahti LaitinenTopic III.  The Effect of Social Changes on the Police Sándor Pintér.  Relationship Between the Hungarian Police and Society Valér Dános and István Tauber.  A Note of Caution on Uncritical Cooperation in the Development of Police Jorgen Jepsen.  The Police and Stereotypes of Ethnic Minorities Michael Rowe.  Social Change, Police and Protection Philip Rawlings & Betsy StankoTopic IV.  Police Co-operation and Border Controls in a "New" Europe; an Indication of Trends for Change Mike King.  The Role of the Police and its Co-operation in Europe László Salgó.  Changing the Police: Preliminary Thoughts as Eastern Europe Moves West Rob I. MawbyTopic V.  Transition in Middle-Europe, Questions about Crime-Prevention and Crime Policy Ferenc Irk.  Social Change and Crime in Italy Giovanni Battista Traverso.  Attitudes of the Chechoslovak Public towards the Police after 1989 in Light of Empirical Investigations Josef Zapletal and Mikulaš Tomin.  Concluding Remarks Louise Shelley.  List of Authors.  Name Index.

    Biography

    Louise Shelley and József Vigh