I am an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at UW-Platteville and author of Sectarian Order in Bahrain: The Social and Colonial Origins of Criminal Justice (2018).
This interdisciplinary Journal of Middle East Studies is an open-access, double-blind peer-review... more This interdisciplinary Journal of Middle East Studies is an open-access, double-blind peer-reviewed journal published digitally by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Lund University. The journal features original multi-disciplinary articles related to the study of the Middle East (broadly defined). Reflecting the general mission of CMES, the journal aims to publish articles that are theoretically informed, methodologically sound and analytically innovative. Nidaba’s goal is to contribute to informed public debates and policy formulations related to the Middle East. The journal welcomes submissions with a broad perspective. Interdisciplinary submissions are strongly encouraged.
International Journal of Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 2015
After experiencing riots involving police and a Roma village, a community in north-eastern Sloven... more After experiencing riots involving police and a Roma village, a community in north-eastern Slovenia hosted the million-dollar production of a major motion picture, Shanghai Gypsy (2012), which focuses on Roma and criminal justice themes. Several current Slovenian police officers played the role of police while local Roma were ‘extras’ as Roma villagers. This research explored the meaning of cooperating on production of the film for participants from two groups formerly in conflict. The current study consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted approximately 18 months after the film was produced with a sample of participants. We hypothesized that the film participants were able to interact with each other in ways that opened up new modes of communication, improved interpersonal relationships, and aided mutual understanding. Participants indicated that the film was regarded as a powerful means of generating Roma cultural awareness. Both police and Roma tended to downplay the inte...
Superman, Batman, Daredevil, and Wonder Woman are iconic cultural figures that embody values of o... more Superman, Batman, Daredevil, and Wonder Woman are iconic cultural figures that embody values of order, fairness, justice, and retribution. Comic Book Crime digs deep into these and other celebrated characters, providing a comprehensive understanding of crime and justice in contemporary American comic books. This is a world where justice is delivered, where heroes save ordinary citizens from certain doom, where evil is easily identified and thwarted by powers far greater than mere mortals could possess. Nickie Phillips and Staci Strobl explore these representations and show that comic books, as a historically important American cultural medium, participate in both reflecting and shaping an American ideological identity that is often focused on ideas of the apocalypse, utopia, retribution, and nationalism. Through an analysis of approximately 200 comic books sold from 2002 to 2010, as well as several years of immersion in comic book fan culture, Phillips and Strobl reveal the kinds of themes and plots popular comics feature in a post-9/11 context. They discuss heroes’ calculations of “deathworthiness,” or who should be killed in meting out justice, and how these judgments have as much to do with the hero’s character as they do with the actions of the villains. This fascinating volume also analyzes how class, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation are used to construct difference for both the heroes and the villains in ways that are both conservative and progressive. Engaging, sharp, and insightful, Comic Book Crime is a fresh take on the very meaning of truth, justice, and the American way.
International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 2015
After experiencing riots involving police and a Roma village, a community in north-eastern Sloven... more After experiencing riots involving police and a Roma village, a community in north-eastern Slovenia hosted the million-dollar production of a major motion picture, Shanghai Gypsy (2012), which focuses on Roma and criminal justice themes. Several current Slovenian police officers played the role of police while local Roma were ‘extras’ as Roma villagers. This research explored the meaning of cooperating on production of the film for participants from two groups formerly in conflict. The current study consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted approximately 18 months after the film was produced with a sample of participants. We hypothesized that the film participants were able to interact with each other in ways that opened up new modes of communication, improved interpersonal relationships, and aided mutual understanding. Participants indicated that the film was regarded as a powerful means of generating Roma cultural awareness. Both police and Roma tended to downplay the intensity of the original conflict, yet often offered stories and anecdotes that seemed to indicate that relations between the groups had indeed improved as a result of their participation in the film.
Superman, Batman, Daredevil, and Wonder Woman are iconic cultural figures that embody values of o... more Superman, Batman, Daredevil, and Wonder Woman are iconic cultural figures that embody values of order, fairness, justice, and retribution. Comic Book Crime digs deep into these and other celebrated characters, providing a comprehensive understanding of crime and justice in contemporary American comic books. This is a world where justice is delivered, where heroes save ordinary citizens from certain doom, where evil is easily identified and thwarted by powers far greater than mere mortals could possess. Nickie Phillips and Staci Strobl explore these representations and show that comic books, as a historically important American cultural medium, participate in both reflecting and shaping an American ideological identity that is often focused on ideas of the apocalypse, utopia, retribution, and nationalism. Through an analysis of approximately 200 comic books sold from 2002 to 2010, as well as several years of immersion in comic book fan culture, Phillips and Strobl reveal the kinds of themes and plots popular comics feature in a post-9/11 context. They discuss heroes’ calculations of “deathworthiness,” or who should be killed in meting out justice, and how these judgments have as much to do with the hero’s character as they do with the actions of the villains. This fascinating volume also analyzes how class, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation are used to construct difference for both the heroes and the villains in ways that are both conservative and progressive. Engaging, sharp, and insightful, Comic Book Crime is a fresh take on the very meaning of truth, justice, and the American way.
In this research, thorough interviews and focus groups with Slovenian police and Roma community l... more In this research, thorough interviews and focus groups with Slovenian police and Roma community leaders in capitol Ljubljana and two regions with biggest Roma community (Dolenjska and Prekmurje), we continue to explore the relationship between the Slovenian police force and the Roma population. We provide a preliminary analysis of police-work narratives as they are recounted by officers and civilians. Slovenia's unique 3-level (local, regional and national) approach in managing conflicts, aggressions and violence relating to Roma communities gains momentum thanks to an innovative multicultural training curriculum, where Slovenian officers are given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with Roma culture, dialects, and tradition. Slovenia's police force consequently may set meaningful first steps towards a journey of multicultural competency learning, rich in intellectual, emotional, and behavioral analysis.
Page 1. Chapter 16 Lost in Transition: Khobar Towers and the Ambiguities of Terrorism in the 1990... more Page 1. Chapter 16 Lost in Transition: Khobar Towers and the Ambiguities of Terrorism in the 1990s Staci Strobl and Jon R. Lindsay Introduction On June 25, 1996, a fuel truck packed with explosives detonated on the perimeter ...
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 2014
ABSTRACT This research contributes to police policy formation aiming to confront Roma social and ... more ABSTRACT This research contributes to police policy formation aiming to confront Roma social and political exclusion in Europe. Since Roma are technically protected by European national constitutions, as well as by the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and other human rights declarations, how Roma are handled by national governments, and in particular the police who may regularly encounter them in daily life, becomes an important part of whether the promises of democracy and multiculturalism can be achieved in actuality. This research outlines promises and challenges faced by a unique Slovenian joint-training program and suggests that a program which leverages relationships with the diverse communities that are Roma-identified can have benefits beyond merely educating police officers. The main methodologies used to document and asses the training program and its community effects were police focus groups and semi-structured interviews with past participants in the program, from both the Roma and non-Roma communities, as well as semi-structured interviews with other community stakeholders. The research shows that increased confidence in the police and community problem solving and dialogue may be attributed to a police focus on Roma-related joint training.
... cultural symbols such as poetry, myth and legend become ideological tools employed by governm... more ... cultural symbols such as poetry, myth and legend become ideological tools employed by governments who construct an idealized past as a model for a hopeful future. Comic creators appear to be expressing a similar political and social longing through nostalgic reveries that ...
This interdisciplinary Journal of Middle East Studies is an open-access, double-blind peer-review... more This interdisciplinary Journal of Middle East Studies is an open-access, double-blind peer-reviewed journal published digitally by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Lund University. The journal features original multi-disciplinary articles related to the study of the Middle East (broadly defined). Reflecting the general mission of CMES, the journal aims to publish articles that are theoretically informed, methodologically sound and analytically innovative. Nidaba’s goal is to contribute to informed public debates and policy formulations related to the Middle East. The journal welcomes submissions with a broad perspective. Interdisciplinary submissions are strongly encouraged.
International Journal of Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 2015
After experiencing riots involving police and a Roma village, a community in north-eastern Sloven... more After experiencing riots involving police and a Roma village, a community in north-eastern Slovenia hosted the million-dollar production of a major motion picture, Shanghai Gypsy (2012), which focuses on Roma and criminal justice themes. Several current Slovenian police officers played the role of police while local Roma were ‘extras’ as Roma villagers. This research explored the meaning of cooperating on production of the film for participants from two groups formerly in conflict. The current study consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted approximately 18 months after the film was produced with a sample of participants. We hypothesized that the film participants were able to interact with each other in ways that opened up new modes of communication, improved interpersonal relationships, and aided mutual understanding. Participants indicated that the film was regarded as a powerful means of generating Roma cultural awareness. Both police and Roma tended to downplay the inte...
Superman, Batman, Daredevil, and Wonder Woman are iconic cultural figures that embody values of o... more Superman, Batman, Daredevil, and Wonder Woman are iconic cultural figures that embody values of order, fairness, justice, and retribution. Comic Book Crime digs deep into these and other celebrated characters, providing a comprehensive understanding of crime and justice in contemporary American comic books. This is a world where justice is delivered, where heroes save ordinary citizens from certain doom, where evil is easily identified and thwarted by powers far greater than mere mortals could possess. Nickie Phillips and Staci Strobl explore these representations and show that comic books, as a historically important American cultural medium, participate in both reflecting and shaping an American ideological identity that is often focused on ideas of the apocalypse, utopia, retribution, and nationalism. Through an analysis of approximately 200 comic books sold from 2002 to 2010, as well as several years of immersion in comic book fan culture, Phillips and Strobl reveal the kinds of themes and plots popular comics feature in a post-9/11 context. They discuss heroes’ calculations of “deathworthiness,” or who should be killed in meting out justice, and how these judgments have as much to do with the hero’s character as they do with the actions of the villains. This fascinating volume also analyzes how class, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation are used to construct difference for both the heroes and the villains in ways that are both conservative and progressive. Engaging, sharp, and insightful, Comic Book Crime is a fresh take on the very meaning of truth, justice, and the American way.
International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 2015
After experiencing riots involving police and a Roma village, a community in north-eastern Sloven... more After experiencing riots involving police and a Roma village, a community in north-eastern Slovenia hosted the million-dollar production of a major motion picture, Shanghai Gypsy (2012), which focuses on Roma and criminal justice themes. Several current Slovenian police officers played the role of police while local Roma were ‘extras’ as Roma villagers. This research explored the meaning of cooperating on production of the film for participants from two groups formerly in conflict. The current study consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted approximately 18 months after the film was produced with a sample of participants. We hypothesized that the film participants were able to interact with each other in ways that opened up new modes of communication, improved interpersonal relationships, and aided mutual understanding. Participants indicated that the film was regarded as a powerful means of generating Roma cultural awareness. Both police and Roma tended to downplay the intensity of the original conflict, yet often offered stories and anecdotes that seemed to indicate that relations between the groups had indeed improved as a result of their participation in the film.
Superman, Batman, Daredevil, and Wonder Woman are iconic cultural figures that embody values of o... more Superman, Batman, Daredevil, and Wonder Woman are iconic cultural figures that embody values of order, fairness, justice, and retribution. Comic Book Crime digs deep into these and other celebrated characters, providing a comprehensive understanding of crime and justice in contemporary American comic books. This is a world where justice is delivered, where heroes save ordinary citizens from certain doom, where evil is easily identified and thwarted by powers far greater than mere mortals could possess. Nickie Phillips and Staci Strobl explore these representations and show that comic books, as a historically important American cultural medium, participate in both reflecting and shaping an American ideological identity that is often focused on ideas of the apocalypse, utopia, retribution, and nationalism. Through an analysis of approximately 200 comic books sold from 2002 to 2010, as well as several years of immersion in comic book fan culture, Phillips and Strobl reveal the kinds of themes and plots popular comics feature in a post-9/11 context. They discuss heroes’ calculations of “deathworthiness,” or who should be killed in meting out justice, and how these judgments have as much to do with the hero’s character as they do with the actions of the villains. This fascinating volume also analyzes how class, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation are used to construct difference for both the heroes and the villains in ways that are both conservative and progressive. Engaging, sharp, and insightful, Comic Book Crime is a fresh take on the very meaning of truth, justice, and the American way.
In this research, thorough interviews and focus groups with Slovenian police and Roma community l... more In this research, thorough interviews and focus groups with Slovenian police and Roma community leaders in capitol Ljubljana and two regions with biggest Roma community (Dolenjska and Prekmurje), we continue to explore the relationship between the Slovenian police force and the Roma population. We provide a preliminary analysis of police-work narratives as they are recounted by officers and civilians. Slovenia's unique 3-level (local, regional and national) approach in managing conflicts, aggressions and violence relating to Roma communities gains momentum thanks to an innovative multicultural training curriculum, where Slovenian officers are given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with Roma culture, dialects, and tradition. Slovenia's police force consequently may set meaningful first steps towards a journey of multicultural competency learning, rich in intellectual, emotional, and behavioral analysis.
Page 1. Chapter 16 Lost in Transition: Khobar Towers and the Ambiguities of Terrorism in the 1990... more Page 1. Chapter 16 Lost in Transition: Khobar Towers and the Ambiguities of Terrorism in the 1990s Staci Strobl and Jon R. Lindsay Introduction On June 25, 1996, a fuel truck packed with explosives detonated on the perimeter ...
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 2014
ABSTRACT This research contributes to police policy formation aiming to confront Roma social and ... more ABSTRACT This research contributes to police policy formation aiming to confront Roma social and political exclusion in Europe. Since Roma are technically protected by European national constitutions, as well as by the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and other human rights declarations, how Roma are handled by national governments, and in particular the police who may regularly encounter them in daily life, becomes an important part of whether the promises of democracy and multiculturalism can be achieved in actuality. This research outlines promises and challenges faced by a unique Slovenian joint-training program and suggests that a program which leverages relationships with the diverse communities that are Roma-identified can have benefits beyond merely educating police officers. The main methodologies used to document and asses the training program and its community effects were police focus groups and semi-structured interviews with past participants in the program, from both the Roma and non-Roma communities, as well as semi-structured interviews with other community stakeholders. The research shows that increased confidence in the police and community problem solving and dialogue may be attributed to a police focus on Roma-related joint training.
... cultural symbols such as poetry, myth and legend become ideological tools employed by governm... more ... cultural symbols such as poetry, myth and legend become ideological tools employed by governments who construct an idealized past as a model for a hopeful future. Comic creators appear to be expressing a similar political and social longing through nostalgic reveries that ...
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