Let's begin with the basics: violence is an inherent part of policing. The police represent the most direct means by which the state imposes its will on the citizenry. They are armed; trained; and authorized to use force. Like the possibility of arrest; the threat of violence is implicit in every police encounter. Violence; as well as the law; is what they represent.Using media reports alone; the Cato Institute's last annual study listed nearly seven thousand victims of police "misconduct" in the United States. But such stories of police brutality only scratch the surface of a national epidemic. Every year; tens of thousands are framed; blackmailed; beaten; sexually assaulted; or killed by cops. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on civil judgments and settlements annually. Individual lives; families; and communities are destroyed.In this extensively revised and updated edition of his seminal study of policing in the United States; Kristian Williams shows that police brutality isn't an anomaly; but is built into the very meaning of law enforcement in the United States. From antebellum slave patrols to today's unarmed youth being gunned down in the streets; "peace keepers" have always used force to shape behavior; repress dissent; and defend the powerful. Our Enemies in Blue is a well-researched page-turner that both makes historical sense of this legalized social pathology and maps out possible alternatives.Kristian Williams is the author of several books; including American Methods: Torture and the Logic of Domination. He co-edited Life During Wartime: Resisting Counterinsurgency; and lives in Portland; Oregon.
#2403827 in Books 2011-03-15 2011-03-29Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.86 x 1.02 x 5.69l; 1.00 #File Name: 1848853092256 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The Separate Sufism of WomenBy Dr. Debra Jan BibelThe recent publication of the near encyclopedic tome; The Music of Central Asia; covers a wide area with excellent overview and balanced information; yet there is ample room for further details. One is the role of women in Sufism. While University of Cambridge Research Fellow and author Razia Sultanova's book subtitle refers to Central Asia; her focus is Uzbekistan. The introductory chapters nicely sketch the history; ritualistic forms; training; and practices of the four main orders of Sufism in Central Asia. Women; however; have by patriarchal tradition been largely eliminated and certainly separated from the mainstream that other books emphasize. Their religious and secular education is severely limited; and they lead rather submissive lives. Sultanova; being a woman herself; was able to enter these closed groups to study how Sufism and its music and rites are practiced among women today. Under the Soviets; Sufism was suppressed; but authorities left women alone and it was they who preserved much of the lore; poetry; and hymns; although styles are mixed from the Orders and also contain vestigial shamanistic songs and approaches. The book covers music; musical instruments (dutar and frame drum); and dance; typically for key life events as male circumcision; marriage; births; and festivals. Translations of songs are included. Despite restrictions; the women enjoyed a religious foundation amongst themselves and led by an Otin-Oy; the female equivalent of Pir; teacher; typically an older; experienced; well-versed women of extended lineage. Sama; devotional listening is not emphasized while Zikr; active practice; remembering; by singing and recitations is the chief form. The more familiar Sufi turning dances and powerful rhythmic breath repetitions of Al-lah and Allah-hu; familiar in Turkey and Pakistan; are not present; rather responsive repetitions of the phrase "There is no God but Allah" serves the same purpose. This book is an important addition to Central Asian religious and ethnomusicological studies. Sultanova provides a rich examination of how Sufism is meshed with women's daily life and how despite virtual ostracism by men; they have achieved a fulfilling; effective religious practice.
