Crimes against the Environment: Green Criminology and Research Challenges in Slovenia
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Purpose: We are consistently confronted by disagreements between technological developments and the comfort which they entail, and striving for a clean environment that ensures long-term quality of life. Global warming, acid rain, air and water pollution are all part of modern societies with developed or developing economic and industrial systems. The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the development and importance of the responses of green criminology to environmental criminality in Slovenia. Methodology: The literature review shows that Slovene criminologists became aware of the appearance and consequences of environmental crime as early as 1981, but since then criminological research into environmental crime in Slovenia declined until 2005. Findings: Although one is faced by a lack of previous criminological endeavours in the field of environmental criminality, there is no need to ‘jump to conclusions’. It is increasingly obvious that the rationalization of green criminology, in terms of its deviation from vocal environmental movements and a detailed exploration of the legalization of individual legal norms is required, as is a more specific definition of green criminology. In other words, a more precise definition of what constitutes a crime against the environment would be helpful. Research limitations/implications: We live in a constantly changing modern society and, consequently, the forms of environmental crime are changing too. The review of literature revealed the very narrow direction of much research, which covered only a small part of the whole field of environmental crime. The limited research in this field highlights a need to engage with more advanced methodological approaches to aid our understanding of environmental crime. The need to adopt alternative methodologies to understand contemporary environmental threats is made all the more real as such threats are in a constant state of change. Systems of social control need to remain true to the state of the problem. At present, this is not happening due to a lack of adequate knowledge and experience. VARSTVOSLOVJE, Journal of Criminal Justice and Security year 11 no. 4 pp. 574-592
Authors: Katja Eman, Gorazd Meško, Charles B. Fields
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2587276994