Work

Introduction:Beyond penal populism: complexifying justice systems and security through qualitative lenses

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In the global political landscape, as far-right parties gain prominence, populist rhetoric advocating for harsher justice and security policies is becoming increasingly prevalent. Proponents of this rhetoric base their discourse on “alarming” violence and crime rates and discredit more liberal approaches, as well as research that deconstruct those Manichean visions. In this introduction, we ask what tangible contributions qualitative and ethnographic methods can offer to the field of justice and security studies. We explain why and to what extent qualitative methods are essential to accurately represent the reality of justice and security and to help deconstruct overly simplistic interpretations of justice and security. Ultimately, this article contends that these methodologies are crucial, now more than ever, for dismantling narratives driven by penal populism.

Source: Etnografica

DOI: 10.4000/148hk

Authors: Annabelle Dias Félix, Maria João Leote de Carvalho, Catarina Fróis

Institutions: Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Iscte – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Centre for Research in Anthropology

Language: English

Topic: Criminal Justice and Penology

Subfield: Law

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia