Transnational Environmental Criminology: Toward an Eco‐global Criminology

Citation

Stanislas, P. (2012), "Transnational Environmental Criminology: Toward an Eco‐global Criminology", The British Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. 14 No. 3, pp. 227-228. https://doi.org/10.1108/bjfp.2012.14.3.227.1

Modern environmental justice activism has its origins in the US civil rights movement and has grown and moved from the fringes to occupy a significant status in contemporary global discussion. The importance of the evolving environmentalist agenda and its relevance for the disciplines that constitute criminology, and beyond, are elucidated by White in his interesting book. One dimension of environmental criminology discussed by the author that recently grabbed headlines was the revelation of an unprecedented eight year covert infiltration of British and Western European environmental groups by undercover police officers. Such actions on the part of the state and its various institutions, and other private interests, suggests that environmental agenda is far more important than they are prepared to acknowledge publicly. A reading of White's book helps to contextualise why this is the case.

The case advanced by White for expanding traditional understanding of criminology to include environmental crime is a convincing and compelling one and reminiscent of Tong's (2007) pioneering work in the area of health and safety and criminology. The book covers the important topic of what constitutes transnational environmental crime as it relates to international laws, covering a wide range of areas to include unauthorised acts or omissions which are subject to criminal prosecution, and the intervention of the criminal justice system. The limits of legal definitions and the dangers of restricting discussions of environmental harm to matters of law are explored in detail. The book goes onto identify and explore a number of harms to humans, the environment and non‐human life forms, caused by various industrial and other practices. The chapter on global biodiversity and climate change and their importance in terms of human and animal security and environmental sustainability is comprehensively addressed and very informative; particularly for those who have little background in the topic.

Of particular interest is the role of corporations, capitalism and the work processes and practices used by companies and governments which contribute to environmental harm. The relationship between corporations and governments and the interests that bind them at the national and transnational level are covered well by White. Civil Rights leader Ben Chavis coined the term “environmental racism” to explain the institutionalized practices of corporations and government of exposing the weakest and poorest sections of American society to the greatest environmental and health hazards, who are primarily visible minority and working class communities, etc. The book expands this discussion to show how the developing world and particular countries, such as Somalia and other African nations, have become the favourite locations for the dumping of toxic and other dangerous waste and goes further and elucidates the relationship between discredited regimes, corporations and foreign governments. It is these relationship which contributed to the killing of influential Ogoni activists Ken Saro, by the Federal Nigerian Government with the collusion of British Shell‐BP, and demonstrates the importance of environmental issues to the agenda of activists in the developing world; as part of their efforts to free their countries from the historical constraints created by neo‐colonialism and capitalism. White's book is a sound and comprehensive introductory text for those with little background in environmental matters, and of potential value for more advanced readers.