Queer utopias and queer criminology

Abstract

Drawing on the concept of utopia to reflect upon the emerging field of queer criminology and José Esteban Muñoz’s account of queer theory as essentially utopian, we draw two conclusions. First, we suggest that queer criminology is currently limited by tinkering at the edges with piecemeal reforms instead of focussing on radical, wholesale changes, and second, that queer theory contains within it the potential for a more holistic reimagining of the social world. In doing so, we question rigid cis/trans binaries and reject accounts of trans/gender that ignore the role of structural harm. We draw on Ernst Bloch’s concepts of ‘abstract’ and ‘concrete’ utopia to suggest that while queer criminology has succeeded in producing largely ‘abstract’ utopias, it struggles in translating these into ‘concrete’ ones. By introducing examples of trans literary utopias as potential transformative cultural forms, however, we consider the potential of queer theory for realising ‘concrete’ utopia through a more radical rethinking of the social world.

Transversal Harm and Zemiology: Reconsidering Green Criminology and Mineral Extractivism in Cerro de Pasco, Peru

“…Green criminology has been seen to fall short of provoking deeper consideration of the complexity of environmental harm, its "underlying structural features and how these can be effectively responded to" (Woodward 2021: 2). To address this shortfall, zemiology introduces a more holistic reimagining of the social world, moving beyond the question of whether certain acts are or should be illegal, extending the conceptual elements of harm to problem framing involving everyday activities, structures, and ideas (Copson 2016;Boukli and Copson 2019;Copson and Boukli 2020;Kotsakis and Boukli 2023). Applied to mining, zemiology focuses on the underlying extractivist imperative, which enables the perpetuation of socio-environmental harm.…”

Why Don’t We Center Abolition in Queer Criminology?

“…Queer, trans, and allied and accomplice scholars outside criminology (broadly) and QC (specifically) have long been theorizing the relationship between the PIC and queer and trans justice, racial justice, gender justice, disability justice, and so on (see, e.g., Mogul et al, 2011). More recent queer criminological research also explicitly theorizes this relationship; however, zemiologists Copson and Boukli (2020) contend that queer criminology “tends to offer a more abstract utopia through its focus on recognizing and improving existing frameworks, resulting from a tendency to adopt an approach which concentrates primarily on recognizing and improving LGBTQI experiences in relation to criminal justice” (p. 513). They further observe that queer and feminist criminologies, “typically appear as add-ons to enhance criminology, rather than a fundamental reimagining of criminology as an enterprise in itself” (Copson & Boukli, 2020, p. 513).…”

“…More recent queer criminological research also explicitly theorizes this relationship; however, zemiologists Copson and Boukli (2020) contend that queer criminology “tends to offer a more abstract utopia through its focus on recognizing and improving existing frameworks, resulting from a tendency to adopt an approach which concentrates primarily on recognizing and improving LGBTQI experiences in relation to criminal justice” (p. 513). They further observe that queer and feminist criminologies, “typically appear as add-ons to enhance criminology, rather than a fundamental reimagining of criminology as an enterprise in itself” (Copson & Boukli, 2020, p. 513). They point out that although queer criminologists like Panfil (2018) argue for the subfield’s “unbounded potential,” at present, QC remains focused on “crime,” and is “predominantly Western, liberal, White, patriarchal and anchored in crime and criminal law” (Copson & Boukli, 2020, p. 514).…”

“…They further observe that queer and feminist criminologies, “typically appear as add-ons to enhance criminology, rather than a fundamental reimagining of criminology as an enterprise in itself” (Copson & Boukli, 2020, p. 513). They point out that although queer criminologists like Panfil (2018) argue for the subfield’s “unbounded potential,” at present, QC remains focused on “crime,” and is “predominantly Western, liberal, White, patriarchal and anchored in crime and criminal law” (Copson & Boukli, 2020, p. 514).…”

Insights from obsolescence: The interpretive potential of skeuomorphs

“… 6. My phrasing of ‘transformative guidance’ is inspired by Copson and Boukli's (2020: 516) term ‘transformative potential’ in their work on utopias.…”