Behind the mask

the long version

This book argues for a proactive approach that focuses on preventing acts of crime and violence before they occur rather than the punishment of perpetrators after the fact. It sees crime as embedded in the social structure, in the disintegration of families and communities, in the breakdown of authority and social trust, and in the inequalities of society that breed hostility and disempowerment. This theme of social disintegration is linked to recent developments in the field of social capital, and in particular to recent empirical findings that link violence with economic inequality and the breakdown of social cohesion. The book presents a number of strategically selected case studies of crime and injury prevention projects in South Africa, including case studies of community responses to crime.