Michel Foucault

This book explores the theoretical contribution of Michel Foucault to the fields of criminology, law, justice and penology. It surveys both the ways in which the work of Foucault has been applied in criminology, but also how his work can be used to understand and explain contemporary issues and policies. Moreover, this book seeks to dispel some of the common misconceptions about the relevance of Foucault’s work to criminology and law. Drawing on key texts by Foucault such as Discipline and Punish, and also lectures he gave at the College de France and Louvain Criminology Institute which offer a more nuanced account of the development of criminal justice, Mariana Valverde offers the essential text on Foucault and his contribution and continued relevance to criminology.

Mariana Valverde is Professor of Criminology at the University of Toronto. She is the author of Chronotopes of Law: Jurisdiction, Scale and Governance (Routledge, 2015) and Law and Order: Images, Meanings, Myths (Routledge, 2006).