A thought experiment: Nordic Society of Criminology?

Abstract

All criminologists know the main international scientific societies of the field: American Society of Criminology (ASC), European Society of Criminology (ESC), and the International Society for Criminology (ISC). In addition, the European Group structures the international co-operation of critical criminologists, and there are networks within specific sub-domains of criminology (such as police research and prison research). Many Nordic criminologists are active in these societies and networks, as well as in national societies which may co-operate with one another. But there is no such thing as a Nordic Society of Criminology (NSC); nor do I recall anyone suggesting that such a society could or should exist. The main reason for this is probably the very effective and successful functioning of the Scandinavian Research Council for Criminology (SRCC). The annual SRCC research seminars fulfill the same function as the annual society meetings of the ESC and ASC, bringing Nordic criminologists together to share their work and ideas with one another. In addition to holding annual research seminars, the SRCC also funds research and publishes this Journal together with key partners from the Nordic countries. There are multiple arguments against the creation of a new society. Who needs an additional framework when the ESC, the SRCC, and the European Group already exist? The Stockholm Criminology Symposium is the most recent newcomer to the supply of international networking options. There clearly is an abundance of society meetings available to an internationally active criminologist. It would be difficult to find a date in the calendar for any additional conference. Indeed, a new society could be counter-productive by decreasing the Nordic involvement in the ESC and the ASC. This would be a bad result as it could feed parochial and isolationist mentalities. But how active are the Nordic criminologists in the ESC and the ASC, for instance? Active membership is probably a good indicator of commitment. The ESC statistics for 2012 (ESC Newsletter 2/2013) indicate that the society had 18 members from Norway, the same number from Sweden, and 13 from Finland. Since Denmark and Iceland did not appear in the statistics, they had fewer than 10 members. If Denmark and Iceland had (let us say) five members each, there would have been 59 Nordic ESC members. This is fairly many; in 2012 only the UK, Belgium, Germany, and the US had more ESC members. Of course, the picture might be different if the number of Nordic members were to be contrasted with the number of professional criminologists in each country. Judging from the Nordic figures, the Finnish ‘ESC membership rate’ among criminologists appears to be particularly high. The member directory of the American Society of Criminology (as inspected on 8 February 2014) shows eightmembers fromSweden, two from each of Finland andNorway, and one Dane. Apart from Sweden, these figures sound fairly low to me, given the historical importance of the USA for the postwar development of social sciences in the Nordic area. So, against the backdrop of Nordic interest in the ESC (and also in the European Group), it would seem that there is no need for a Nordic Society of Criminology. On the