The International Society for Criminology (ISC) was founded in Rome, Italy, in 1937. It is the only worldwide organization in the field of criminology and criminal justice. Its objective is to support activities and research designed to produce a better understanding of the crime phenomenon on an international scale; to translate research findings into good policymaking and programmatic interventions; to stimulate much-needed reforms of penal codes and the administration of justice and to support the establishment of high-quality criminology and criminal justice programmes. The ISC promotes the prevention of crime as well as improving the procedures used by criminal justice systems. Its activities, therefore, focus both on scientific and practical issues. Criminology has depended very much on Western thought, concepts, methodology and research to underpin its theories, conduct its empirical studies, interpret the data and guide policymaking. This is not yet a settled area.
Recently, thanks to globalization that has made scientific collaboration and sharing of ideas, data and knowledge faster, more common and universal and due to the debate on whether the Western model is the only one capable and worthy to guide scientific work and pragmatic interventions, other perspectives, values, understandings and views have had an opportunity to sprout, grow and become more accepted. It can be debated how necessary or valid this “regionalizing” criminology is, but progress is constantly being made due to increased communication and sharing. The seminal article in this issue authored by Professor Jianhong Liu addresses the relationship between Western and non-Western criminology and the strategies of developing criminology under non-Western contexts, relying especially on the concept of an “Asian Criminological Paradigm”.
A different take on this debate was presented in the essay “Towards Culture-Inclusive Criminology in Asia”, by Suzuki and Pai (Reference Suzuki and Chen-Fu2019), published in the International Annals of Criminology. It is a valuable contribution to this dialogue.
This issue of the International Annals of Criminology illustrates the change underway and the blossoming of the discipline worldwide. All the articles in this issue have been researched and written by academics and professionals, all but one working outside the so-called Western area, including the United States and English-speaking northern countries. Five authors are in India; the others are in China, Bahrain or Paraguay, and one is originally from Ghana. The topics of their work reflect universal issues of concern but with a distinct local flavour and approach. One concerns money laundering and asset recovery. One addresses the persistent plague of white-collar crimes and how to disrupt corruption through education. Three articles provide pragmatic analyses and evaluations of intervention programmes in criminal justice in India, offering important lessons on how to avoid failed implementation of very promising initiatives. One addresses a persistent form of ultimate domestic violence in Fiji justified, in the perpetrator’s eyes, by real or perceived sexual infidelity. Another discusses Asian and non-Western criminology.
As Editor of the Annals, I am proud to give these works worldwide exposure, reaffirming the truly international values and objectives of the ISC, and am looking forward to this trend continuing and becoming stronger.
Acknowledgements
A sincere expression of thanks to the authors, referees and editorial staff for their support and assistance.
Emilio C. Viano is the Editor in Chief of the International Annals of Criminology and the President of the International Society of Criminology (re-elected in Doha, 2019).
He has earned several law degrees in the UK and USA and a Ph.D. in Rome and another in New York, both “summa cum laude”. He has been a Professor at the American University, the Washington College of Law and other universities worldwide. He is President of the International Society of Criminology and Editor of the International Annals of Criminology. He serves on the Steering Committee of the Global Forum on Law, Justice and Development at the World Bank, the Board of Directors of the International Association of Penal Law, and others. He has also been Senior Advisor on Cyber Crime at the Legal Vice Presidency, the World Bank.
His pioneering work in victimology was recognized by the award of the “Hans Von Hentig” Medal, the highest recognition of the World Society of Victimology. He has also been a recipient of Fulbright Scholar awards. He was the Program Chair for the 17th World Congress of Criminology held in Mexico (2014) and for the 18th World Congress held in India (2016) and organized the 2019 World Congress in Doha, Qatar. He has also served as General Reporter on Cybercrime for the International Association of Penal Law. He organized and chaired an international conference on Female Migration to ISIS in Venice, Italy.
Dr. Viano has published extensively in the field of criminology, victimology, international criminal law, terrorism and cybercrime. He is a recognized political analyst interviewed regularly on CNN, Voice of America, France 24, UNIVISION, Canadian Broadcasting Service and several other media outlets.
