A World of Gangs: Armed Young Men and Gangsta Culture (Globalization and Community)

Hagedorn’s A World of Gangs will make a lasting impression on all who work with diverse youth populations.

Hagedorn presents a searing study of the cultural phenomenon of gangs. His exploration demonstrates how globally entrenched gangs are, and how these bands of destructive youth cross country boundaries to threaten even international peace. From inner-city gangs to murderous political insurgents to international terrorists operating in cells, Hagedorn’s work characterizes gang life, culture, show more and its many violent illegal enterprises as a worldwide crisis that feeds off society’s counterproductive, predatory values of racism, sexism, and classism. show less

A World of Gangs is a dizzying journey around the globe in order to understand the contours of the contemporary gang situation. Hagedorn graciously escorts the reader through Chicago’s housing projects, Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, Cape Town’s townships, and Mumbai’s slums. Hagedorn once again moves gang research and urban scholarship in a much-needed direction. This book takes a long show more overdue look at how macro socio-economic forces shape the highly localized life of gangs and gang members. Hagedorn boldly calls for the infusion of race, politics, and culture into the study of gangs—subjects that have been overlooked for far too long. show less