State criminality : the crime of all crimes /

Rothe (criminology, Old Dominion Univ.) has in record time established a reputation as a leading student of crimes of states. She has co-authored recent books on the international criminal court and state crime in Africa. Here, she provides a comprehensive overview of "the crime of all crimes"--i.e., the most consequential and harmful form of crime. The author begins with an introduction of the basic terminology and parameters of state crime, then considers the various types of state crime and hybrid types (e.g., state-corporate crime), the costs of such crime, and methodological challenges in studying it. She introduces an integrated theory for explaining this especially complex form of crime and delineates different types of governmental structures conducive to such crime. Subsequent chapters address the range of mechanisms, international and domestic, available to control state crime. A concluding chapter offers a summary and a projection of future directions. This book complements and updates Penny Green and Tony Ward's State Crime: Governments, Violence and Corruption (2004). In light of the immense importance of the topic, this excellent book deserves the widest possible readership among criminologists and all other interested parties. Summing Up: Essential. Most levels/libraries. D. O. Friedrichs University of Scranton