About the book
In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson insisted that “the policeman is the frontline soldier in our war against crime,” and police forces, arms makers, policy makers, and crime experts heeded this call to arms, bringing weapons and practices from the arena of war back home. The Punitive Turn in American Life offers a political and cultural history of the ways in which punishment and surveillance have moved to the center of American life and become imbued with militarized language and policies. Michael S. Sherry argues that, by the 1990s, the “war on crime” had been successfully broadcast to millions of Americans at an enormous cost — to those arrested, imprisoned, or killed and to the social fabric of the nation — and that the currents of vengeance that ran through the punitive turn, underwriting torture at home and abroad, found a new voice with the election of Donald J. Trump. By 2020, the connections between war-fighting and crime-fighting remained powerful, evident in campaigns against undocumented immigrants and the militarized police response to the nationwide uprisings after George Floyd’s murder. Stoked by “forever war,” the punitive turn endured even as it met fiercer resistance.
From the racist system of mass incarceration and the militarization of criminal justice to gated communities, public schools patrolled by police, and armies of private security, Sherry chronicles the United States' slide into becoming a meaner, punishment-obsessed nation.
Editions of The Punitive Turn in American Life
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469660707
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469679341
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469660721
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890859860
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469660714
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890859853
Read an Excerpt
In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson insisted that “the policeman is the frontline soldier in our war against crime,” and police forces, arms makers, policy makers, and crime experts heeded this call to arms, bringing weapons and practices from the arena of war back home. The Punitive Turn in American Life offers a political and cultural history of the ways in which punishment and surveillance have moved to the center of American life and become imbued with militarized language and policies. Michael S. Sherry argues that, by the 1990s, the “war on crime” had been successfully broadcast to millions of Americans at an enormous cost — to those arrested, imprisoned, or killed and to the social fabric of the nation — and that the currents of vengeance that ran through the punitive turn, underwriting torture at home and abroad, found a new voice with the election of Donald J. Trump. By 2020, the connections between war-fighting and crime-fighting remained powerful, evident in campaigns against undocumented immigrants and the militarized police response to the nationwide uprisings after George Floyd’s murder. Stoked by “forever war,” the punitive turn endured even as it met fiercer resistance.
From the racist system of mass incarceration and the militarization of criminal justice to gated communities, public schools patrolled by police, and armies of private security, Sherry chronicles the United States' slide into becoming a meaner, punishment-obsessed nation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Punitive Turn in American Life about?
In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson insisted that “the policeman is the frontline soldier in our war against crime,” and police forces, arms makers, policy makers, and crime experts heeded this call to arms, bringing weapons and practices from the arena of war back home. The Punitive Turn in American Life offers a political and cultural history of the ways in which punishment and surveillance have moved to the center of American life and become imbued with militarized language and policies. Michael S. Sherry argues that, by the 1990s, the “war on crime” had been successfully broadcast to millions of Americans at an enormous cost — to those arrested, imprisoned, or killed and to the social fabric of the nation — and that the currents of vengeance that ran through the punitive turn, underwriting torture at home and abroad, found a new voice with the election of Donald J. Trump. By 2020, the connections between war-fighting and crime-fighting remained powerful, evident in campaigns against undocumented immigrants and the militarized police response to the nationwide uprisings after George Floyd’s murder. Stoked by “forever war,” the punitive turn endured even as it met fiercer resistance.
From the racist system of mass incarceration and the militarization of criminal justice to gated communities, public schools patrolled by police, and armies of private security, Sherry chronicles the United States' slide into becoming a meaner, punishment-obsessed nation.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Punitive Turn in American Life?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of The Punitive Turn in American Life?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469660707
How long is The Punitive Turn in American Life and how many pages does it have?
The Punitive Turn in American Life has 312 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Punitive Turn in American Life?
Michael S. Sherry
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Punitive Turn in American Life is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469660707) and paperback(ISBN 9781469679341) and ebook(ISBN 9781469660721) and ebook(ISBN 9798890859860) and ebook(ISBN 9781469660714) and pdf(ISBN 9798890859853)
Where can I buy The Punitive Turn in American Life online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Punitive Turn in American Life from below
Where can I buy The Punitive Turn in American Life?