Global policing.
Marshall, Daniel
Ben Bowling & James Sheptycki (2012), London SAGE publications,
pp180 (pbk) 22.99 [pounds sterling], ISBN 978-1849200820.
In 2011, public services in England and Wales saw their budgets cut
deeply as the realities of the global recession took a hold. This led to
organisational change across many of these services, not least police
services. The recession was, in part, a reminder of the impact
globalisation can have at a local level. We can easily come to focus on
that which is immediately in front of us, and forget the wider-ranging
impact. Global Policing provides a timely reminder that policing too has
a global presence which is not confined to England and Wales.
Cross-border policing has led to a 'new global policing
architecture', shaping policing practices across the world. The
book at first appears short (180 pages) for such a broad subject matter,
however these established authors provide a very informative and
accessible discussion throughout, which will be of valued interest to
academics, police practitioners and students alike.
Chapter one introduces global policing, contextualising the
'subject with regard to theories of policing, globalisation, social
order and governance.' The problems of the concept are addressed,
including the use of a compelling case of mistaken identity in which
Derek Bond was wrongfully arrested in South Africa due to inaccurate
information flagged by the US FBI and circulated by Interpol,
highlighting some of the fundamental flaws to the global policing
structure. This leads the authors to raise critical questions of the
infrastructure and administration of global policing, which they address
in the proceeding chapters. Chapter one further provides a theoretical
base for these questions to be answered. Two tables (pp. 24-25) provide
an excellent overview of the way in which transnational policing is
undertaken. This leads into chapter two, which considers the emerging
transnational-state-system within which global policing occurs. The
chapter discusses the role of economic globalisation and political and
cultural change in the reduction in power of the state and the
consequent role of the police within. The authors suggest that the
'social quality of politics', not the 'letter of the
law', shapes the boundaries of policing, and global policing is
'highly influential in the world system'.
Chapter three considers the global policing architecture,
describing the institutional framework and the various layers in the
structure, globally and locally, whilst addressing the role of private
agencies and the links between each component. The authors acknowledge
that the content presented is an incomplete description, however this
provides a very good account of the development of the structures of
global policing since World War II. In addition, they highlight that the
development of global policing structures have been shaped and moulded
by transnational police actors, without 'public discussion or
political dissent.'
Chapter four introduces archetypal roles, which are fundamental to
the authors' theory of global policing, to describe the functions
performed by transnational police personnel. A substantive discussion of
subcultural theory is presented to explain these eight types of
'global cops', who are: technician, diplomat, entrepreneur,
public-relations expert, legal ace, spy, field-operator and enforcer. It
must be noted that these 'types' do not necessarily exist
across global policing, as they are 'ideal types' not
'actual types' that exist in every circumstance. They do
however provide a good model for understanding the roles that contribute
to the execution of policing globally. This leads into chapter five,
which considers the practical application of global policing. The
authors provide an analysis of the transnational policing of territory
through borders, oceans, cyberspace and mega-events, and global flows of
people, money, drugs and weapons. It is suggested that 'policing
practices often produce more serious harms than they prevent.'
Furthermore, the authors assert the need for a change in the subcultural
language away from a dualistic world view labelling others as
'you' or 'them', to a holistic vision of the world
based on a social contract involving 'we' and 'us'.
The authors conclude the book with a nuanced discussion of the key
themes and concepts presented throughout. The overarching conclusion
suggests a need for a strengthened democratic ethos with a central
thread of accountability for global policing.
The authors set out to show 'how security threats have been
constructed by powerful actors to justify the creation of a new global
policing architecture and how the subculture of policing shapes the
world system' whilst 'demonstrating how a theory of global
policing is central to understanding global governance'. This is
achieved in a very clearly written and accessible way. The impact of
globalisation on local structures and cultures should not be
underestimated, and vice versa. The authors present a compelling
analysis of the way transnational policing is increasingly shaping
police practices across the world, locally and globally. This text would
be a welcome addition to any library with a policing focus, and to
anyone with an interest in the changing structures and impact this
fascinating subject is having.
Dr Daniel Marshall, Institute of Criminology, University of
Cambridge
