How do political and economic forces shape policing strategies? This paper analyzes recent trends in policing in the USA within a historical context, emphasizing the critical influence of political, economic, and social forces on the formation and evolution of police institutions and practices. By examining policing through the lens of political economy, the research offers a nuanced understanding of the challenges and possibilities for police agencies to promote social justice. The paper describes four major developments in policing, pre-industrial, industrial, modern, and postmodern police, each with unique characteristics and structural imperatives. Despite their differences, each stage retains core elements that preserve the police as front-line defenders of the status quo. The analysis considers the historical context and structural conditions to determine the potential for contemporary police agencies to contribute to either greater social justice or increased social control. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of policing, urging a critical examination of the relationship between police practices and the broader political economy. By analyzing the historical and structural forces at play, the paper encourages a more informed discussion about the potential for police agencies to advance social justice.
Published in Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, this paper fits within the journal's scope of examining police strategies and management from a broader perspective. By analyzing the political and economic factors influencing policing, the research contributes to the journal's exploration of the complex challenges facing police agencies. The citations reflect the paper's engagement with the existing literature on policing, criminology, and social justice.