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Gangs of the World

A Comparative Analysis of Gang Formation, Culture, and Violence

Gangs of the World cover

Gangs of the World

A Comparative Analysis of Gang Formation, Culture, and Violence

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Description

Why do gangs emerge, where do they endure, and how do they evolve?

Bringing together an international group of scholars, this edited volume offers a broad comparative perspective on gangs as dynamic social and criminal formations shaped by history, inequality, migration, urbanization, technological change, and globalization. Moving beyond narrow or region-specific understandings, the book situates gang activity within wider cultural, political, and economic contexts while acknowledging the distinct conditions that give rise to gangs in different parts of the world.
The collection is organized around five interconnected themes: conceptual and theoretical foundations, the social dimensions of gang identity, regional perspectives, specialized gang types, and policy responses. Chapters address enduring questions about youth involvement, violence, gender, and community relations while also considering the ways gangs adapt to changing environments and opportunities. Regional coverage spans Latin America, Eastern Europe and Russia, East and South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Africa, Oceania, and the Caribbean, highlighting both local variations and shared patterns. Additional discussions of prison gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs broaden the volume's scope, while the concluding chapters consider contemporary approaches to prevention, policing, and intervention alongside emerging trends likely to shape the future of gang activity.
By linking theory, comparative scholarship, and practical concerns, this volume provides an understanding of gangs as both products of local conditions and participants in wider transnational networks, offering readers a strong foundation for interpreting one of the most persistent and evolving challenges confronting communities around the world.

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Table of Contents

Foreword by Mitchel P. Roth
Preface by Abiodun Raufu
Part I: Foundations & Theory
1.Historical Trajectories and the Global Crisis in Gang Conceptualization by Abiodun Raufu
2.Why Do Youth Join Gangs? A Theoretical Review by L. Sergio Garduno & Sherika A. Service
3.Migration Globalization and Technology in Gang Formation and Violence by Triantafyllos (Akis) Karatrantos & Zorzina Georganta
Part II: Social Dimensions & Identity
4.Gender, Violence, and Gang Identity by Andrea Hagan
5.Street Gangs and Community Dynamics in North America by Andrea Hagan & Christian L. Bolden
Part III: Regional Perspectives
6.Gangs and Organized Crime in Latin America by Carlos Ponce
7.Eastern European and Russian Gangs: Crime and Corruption by Serguei Cheloukhine, Vitaly Khan, & Bauyrzhan Urazalin
8.East Asian Gangs and Organized Crime by Hua-Lun Huang
9.Chinese Organized Crime: Diaspora Networks and Transnational Expansion by Sharon Ingrid Kwok & Leo S.F. Lin
10.Juvenile Delinquency and Gangs in South Asia by Devika Hazra
11.Youth Gangs and Urban Marginality in Middle East and North Africa by Mustapha Omrane
12.Urbanization, Inequality, and Gangs in African Cities by G. Nokukhanya Ndhlovu & Sisanda Mguzulwa
13.Oceanic Gangs: A Pacific Criminology Perspective by Moses Ma'alo Faleolo & Tafa Mulitalo
14.Caribbean Gangs and Urban Crime by Sherill V. C. Morris-Francis, Sherika A. Service, & Dionne Smalling
Part IV: Specialized Gangs & Crime Types
15.Prison Gangs: A Global Perspective by Andy J. Bain
16.The Globalization of Biker Gang Violence and Crime by Terry Goldsworthy & Gaelle Brotto
Part V: Policy & Future Directions
17.Law Enforcement, Legislative Frameworks, and Community by Brian Hempel
18.Future Trajectories of Global Gangs by Carter F. Smith
Index
About the Editors

About the Contributors

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published Apr 01 2027
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Pages 416
ISBN 9798216380849
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Illustrations 6 bw figures, 10 tables
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Anthology Editor

Abiodun Raufu

Abiodun Raufu, PhD, a gender violence scholar, is…

Anthology Editor

L. Sergio Garduno

L. Sergio Garduno, PhD, is Assistant Professor of…

Foreword

Mitchel P. Roth

Dr. Mitchel P. Roth is Professor of Criminal Justi…

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