Shedding Light on the Global East: An Empirical Perspective

Session Submission Type: Pre-arranged Panel

Abstract

The concept of the Global East, introduced in 2020 (Müller, 2020) as both a political and epistemological project, seeks to highlight the unique experiences of the former Eastern Bloc, which remain underrepresented in the global production of social science knowledge. Neither fitting into the Global North nor the Global South, which often serve as positive and negative role models, the Global East represents a shared history of authoritarian regimes, rapid transitions from planned to market economies, and ongoing struggles for identity - aspects frequently overlooked in various disciplines, including criminology. A notable attempt to reclaim a place and a voice for the Global East in criminology was made by Laura Piacentini and Gavin Slade. Examining the Soviet Gulag, "the largest system of mass imprisonment in world history" (Piacentini & Slade, 2024), they demonstrated how aspects of this system even influenced certain "Western" prison models. Their work illustrates how the Global East experience can contribute to global discussions on punishment and justice. This panel builds upon such efforts, using four empirical studies to explore the relevance of the Global East for contemporary criminology. By examining punishment, policing, housing, and informality in private enterprise, these studies not only provide insight into post-socialist transformations but also offer valuable lessons for Western criminology. The Global East’s experiences with state control, legal adaptation, and informal economies can help refine criminological theories and policies beyond the region, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of crime, punishment, and governance in a globalized world.

Subtopic

• Topic 1: Perspectives on Crime and Criminal Behavior / Critical Criminology

Chair

• Veronika Pehe, Institute of Contemporary History

Individual Presentations

• From Bad Landlords to Harmful Housing: A Global East Perspective on a Neglected Criminological Topic - Václav Walach, University of Ostrava

• Thinking about Punishment and Punitiveness from the Global East - Gavin Slade, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan

• Informal Entrepreneurship in Czechia: A Critical Global East Perspective - Petr Kupka, University of Ostrava; Veronika Pehe, Institute of Contemporary History

• Police Legitimacy in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods in Czechia: An Intersectional Analysis - Martina Novopacká, University of Ostrava; Petr Kupka, University of Ostrava