SUNY Potsdam Sociology and Criminal Justice professor Dr. David Bugg publishes new textbook – North Country Now

Report on the Publication of “Comparative Criminology” and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

A new academic textbook, “Comparative Criminology,” authored by Dr. David Bugg of SUNY Potsdam, has been released. The publication provides a comprehensive analysis of global crime and criminal justice systems, with significant implications for the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Core Focus and Contribution to SDG 16

The textbook’s primary objective is to examine the social, political, and economic factors influencing crime on a global scale. It advocates for learning from diverse international experiences to develop innovative solutions to shared challenges. This approach directly supports the targets of SDG 16.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: The work promotes the development of effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels by analyzing and comparing justice systems worldwide.
• Global Partnership (SDG 17): By highlighting the interconnectedness of crime and the need for international cooperation, the text underscores the importance of global partnerships for sustainable development.

Analysis of Transnational Crime and Specific SDG Targets

Dr. Bugg’s research moves beyond a traditional Eurocentric focus to include nations from every continent, offering a holistic view of transnational organized crime. The analysis of specific criminal activities correlates with several SDG targets:

1. Human Trafficking: The textbook addresses the realities of human trafficking, a critical issue targeted by:
   • SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
   • SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking.
   • SDG 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking.
2. Illicit Financial and Arms Flows: The study of money laundering, drug trafficking, and weapons trafficking directly relates to:
   • SDG 16.4: Significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets, and combat all forms of organized crime.
3. Illicit Trafficking of Natural Resources: By examining crimes such as illicit timber trafficking, the book highlights threats to environmental sustainability, connecting to:
   • SDG 15.7: Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna.
   • SDG 15.c: Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species.

Educational Impact and Conclusion

“Comparative Criminology” serves as an educational tool that contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by fostering an understanding of global citizenship and the complex challenges facing the international community. The author’s stated hope is to inspire efforts toward creating a “safer and kinder world,” a vision that encapsulates the fundamental principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The textbook provides a framework for understanding how improvements in justice systems, both domestically and internationally, are essential for achieving sustainable peace and development.

1. Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The article on the textbook “Comparative Criminology” highlights several issues that directly connect to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This is the most prominent SDG related to the article. The textbook’s entire focus is on the “study of crime and criminal justice systems across nations.” It explicitly mentions issues central to SDG 16, such as reducing violence (“homicide”), combating organized crime (“international organized crime”), and tackling illicit trafficking (“drugs, weapons and victims of human trafficking,” “money laundering”). The book’s stated goal of creating “a safer and kinder world” by improving criminal justice systems aligns perfectly with the aim of this goal.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article’s specific mention of “victims of human trafficking” connects to SDG 5. Human trafficking is a form of violence and exploitation that disproportionately affects women and girls. Addressing this crime is a key component of achieving gender equality and eliminating violence against women.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The issue of “human trafficking” also relates to SDG 8. Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery and forced labor, which this goal aims to eradicate. The textbook’s exploration of the “real human costs” of such crimes touches upon the exploitation of labor that SDG 8 seeks to prevent.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article explicitly mentions the “illicit trafficking of natural resources” and provides the specific example of “illicit timber trafficking.” This directly relates to SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss. Combating the illegal trade in timber and other natural resources is crucial for preserving forests and the life they support.

2. Specific SDG Targets

Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

  The textbook’s analysis of crimes includes “homicide,” which is a direct measure of violent death rates that this target aims to reduce.

• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

  The repeated mention of “human trafficking” and its victims directly addresses the core components of this target, which focuses on ending exploitation and trafficking.

• Target 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime.

  This target is strongly supported by the article’s references to “drugs, weapons” trafficking, “money laundering,” and “international organized crime.” The book’s purpose is to understand and address these exact forms of illicit flows and criminal organization.

• Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.

  The textbook’s comparative approach, which examines “international experiences” to find “innovative approaches to shared challenges,” embodies the spirit of international cooperation to build capacity and combat crime and “terrorism,” another crime explicitly mentioned in the article.

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

  The focus on “human trafficking” directly links to this target, as trafficking is a severe form of violence and exploitation against women and girls.

• Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour…

  The discussion of “human trafficking” is directly relevant to this target, which calls for the eradication of modern slavery and human trafficking.

• Target 15.7: Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products.

  The specific mention of “illicit timber trafficking” falls under the scope of this target, which addresses the trafficking of protected flora (trees).

3. Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article does not mention official SDG indicator codes, but it implies several indicators by discussing the phenomena they are designed to measure:

• Implied Indicator for Target 16.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide.

  The article’s reference to studying “homicide” as a type of crime implies the use of homicide rates (Indicator 16.1.1) as a measure of progress in reducing violence.

• Implied Indicator for Target 16.2: Number of victims of human trafficking.

  By mentioning “victims of human trafficking,” the article points to the key metric used in Indicator 16.2.2, which tracks the number of trafficking victims to measure efforts to end this crime.

• Implied Indicator for Target 16.4: Prevalence of illicit arms and financial flows.

  The discussion of “drugs, weapons” trafficking and “money laundering” implies the need for indicators that measure these illicit flows, such as Indicator 16.4.2 (Proportion of seized, found or surrendered arms whose illicit origin or context has been traced).

• Implied Indicator for Target 15.7: Value or volume of illicitly trafficked natural resources.

  The mention of “illicit timber trafficking” suggests an indicator related to the scale of this illegal trade, which is what Indicator 15.7.1 (Proportion of traded wildlife that was poached or illicitly trafficked) aims to capture.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: northcountrynow.com