Table of Contents

Foreword 1. Introduction: Bringing Moral Panic Studies into Focus Part 1: Conceptualizing Moral Panic Studies Section Introduction 2. Grounding and Defending the Sociology of Moral Panic 3. Locating Moral Panics within the Sociology of Social Problems 4. Fractious Rivals? Moral Panics and Moral Regulation 5. Shifting the Focus? Moral Panics as Civilizing and Decivilizing Processes Part 2: Examining Moral Panic Studies Section Introduction 6. The Objectification of Fear and the Grammar of Morality 7. How Emotions Matter to Moral Panic 8. Folk Devils Reconsidered 9. The Duality of the Devil: Realism, Relationalism, and Representation Part 3: Applying Moral Panic Studies Section Introduction 10. Panic, Regulation, and the Moralization of British Law and Order Politics 11. Drunken Antics: The Gin Craze, Binge Drinking, and the Political Economy of Moral Regulation 12. The Artful Creation of a Global Moral Panic: Climatic Folk Devils, Environmental Evangelicals, and the Coming Catastrophie 13. When Harm is Done: Panic, Scandal, and Blame 14. The Unhealthy Risk Society: Health Scares and the Politics of Moral Panic

About the Author

Sean Hier is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He has authored several articles on moral panic, and he is recognized for his efforts to link moral panic to moral regulation/social problems.

Reviews

'Overall, the essays provide unique perspectives on the importance of [moral panic studies], and many of the essays discuss and develop an integrated framework for understanding the importance of moral panics. A major strength is that most of the essays move beyond the sociology of deviance, viewing moral panics in terms of identity formation, industrial risk, character formation, and national security.''Advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in politics, media, social theory, political sociology, and the sociology of culture will find this collection timely and enlightening. Summing Up: Highly recommended.'-P. J. Venturelli, Valparaiso University, in Choice March 2012