Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice is a paradigm of social theory that explains social order as the result of everyday practices. Society does not emerge solely through objective structures nor purely through conscious action, but through the interplay of embodied dispositions (habitus), available resources (capital), and the social arenas in which actors struggle for positions
Critical theory is a major paradigm in sociology that understands social reality as a historically developed order of domination. Society does not primarily emerge through functional integration or communicative self-reference, but through power relations, economic structures, and ideological mediation. At the center lies the guiding question: How are relations of domination socially stabilized—and how is
At first glance, children’s television appears harmless: colorful characters, simple narratives, clear conflicts. From a sociological perspective, however, children’s TV series are anything but trivial. They construct model worlds in which children learn what is considered “normal” – which family forms, occupations, conflicts, gender roles, and forms of authority are taken for granted. Children’s series
What we eat, when, how, and with whom – these are not purely personal decisions. The sociology of food reveals that eating is a deeply social practice. It signifies belonging, marks differences, reflects power relations, and has become increasingly moralized. Between everyday routines and global food systems, a complex field of research unfolds, offering insights
Predict and Surveil is one of the first ethnographic studies of data-driven policing in the United States. In this landmark work, American sociologist Sarah Brayne focuses on the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), a pioneer in predictive policing—and a department widely criticized for its surveillance practices. Brayne analyzes how big data, algorithmic predictions, and digital
The Politics of Abolition (1974) by Thomas Mathiesen is one of the most influential works in penal abolitionism and critical criminology. In a radical departure from traditional theories of punishment, Mathiesen advocates not for alternative forms of punishment, but for the abolition of the prison system altogether—calling into question the legitimacy of the entire penal