Punitive populism or social policy?
Title of the magazine or publication:
Per la pau, número 41
Authors:
Albert Sales Campos (Institut Metròpoli)
Year: 2023
Pages: 11
Punitive populism is a political strategy consisting of using criminal law to gain electoral advantages by assuming the premise that increasing the severity of punishments implies a reduction in crimes. Following this strategy, policymakers propose and approve measures to toughen sentences to provide an immediate, and seemingly simple, response to social concerns such as high-profile crimes or the fear of an increase in criminal activities involving repeat offenders.
The article takes a journey through the main axes of punitive discourse over the last thirty years: the centrality of the prison system, the instrumentalization of victims, and the electoral use of fear.
Link to the original text: https://www.icip.cat/perlapau/en/article/punitive-populism-or-social-policy/
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