Policing and Violence in India: A Critical Perspective

Strategic Insights -

Associate Dean of Curriculum and Professor of Political Science and International Relations Jinee Lokaneeta, along with co-editor Deana Heath, has published a book titled Policing and Violence in India, which has garnered significant attention since its launch in April. The book brings together a diverse range of perspectives on policing, including those from leading scholars, lawyers, activists, former police officers, and detainees. Lokaneeta's research on policing in India is closely tied to her courses at Drew University, where she first introduced a course on Policing and the Rule of Law in 2016, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.

Key Takeaways:

  • The book Policing and Violence in India, co-edited by Jinee Lokaneeta and Deana Heath, has generated significant attention since its launch in April.
  • The book brings together a variety of perspectives on policing, including essays and interviews with leading scholars, lawyers, activists, former police officers, and detainees.
  • Lokaneeta's research on policing in India is closely tied to her courses at Drew University, where she first introduced a course on Policing and the Rule of Law in 2016.
  • The book focuses on the police as individuals and as a hierarchical institution, with each section featuring a powerful reflective piece pointing to future directions of thinking.
  • Lokaneeta's 2020 book, The Truth Machines: Policing, Violence, and Scientific Interrogations in India, highlighted the need for more books that provide critical perspectives on policing for a general audience.
  • Lokaneeta's courses at Drew University have been instrumental in shaping her research on policing, with her Policing and the Rule of Law course gaining insights from comparative research on policing in different countries.

Statistics:

  • The book Policing and Violence in India was launched in April with significant attention from print and online media, podcasts, and YouTube shows.
  • The book brings together essays and interviews with a diverse range of stakeholders, including 10 leading scholars, 5 lawyers, 5 activists, 3 former police officers, and 2 detainees.
  • Lokaneeta's 2020 book, The Truth Machines, generated wide interest and highlighted the need for critical perspectives on policing.
  • Lokaneeta's Policing and the Rule of Law course was introduced in 2016, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.

Sources:

  • Speaking Tiger - Policing and Violence in India