Governing through crime — the case of the European Union

Abstract

In Governing through Crime , Jonathan Simon offers an ‘interpretation’ of contemporary practices, discourses and experiences of the state in the USA that aims to provide a ‘thick’ account of the use of crime as a governance strategy. In support of his argument, he cites a variety of constitutional, cultural, economic, historical, political and social factors. Many of them are demonstrably US-specific. Therefore, any potential for exploring the application of his ideas to another governmental entity might appear to be precluded. This article challenges that supposition, investigating their possible relevance to an understanding of the European Union’s evolving, and increasingly significant, role as a penal actor.