The Dig Policing the Crisis w/ Michael Denning
Jan 19, 2025
In a compelling discussion, Michael Denning, a Marxist cultural critic from Yale, dives into the moral panic surrounding mugging in 1970s England and its impact on marginalized communities. He links this historical crisis to the rise of neoliberalism and authoritarianism, emphasizing how societal fears shape narratives around law and order. Denning also explores the complexities of race, class, and the evolving relationship between crime and state authority, urging a reassessment of traditional Marxist frameworks while advocating for community engagement and support.
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Mugging Crisis Context
- Policing the Crisis analyzes the 1970s UK "mugging crisis."
- It connects this to racialized political economy, crisis, migration, and imperial decline.
Collective Work
- Policing the Crisis is a complex, collectively written work, examining British society's "common sense."
- It served as a laboratory for Stuart Hall's later, more famous ideas.
Origin of Mugging Project
- The book's mugging project stemmed from a community issue in Birmingham involving young Black men and harsh sentencing.
- This specific case became an entry point into wider social analysis.