This volume investigates the evolving nature of crime and the efficacy of social control mechanisms within the context of an increasingly integrated European landscape. The authors, Ian R. Taylor, Nigel South, and Vincenzo Ruggiero, curate a collection of essays from prominent European criminologists to analyze how national borders and international harmonization influence criminal activity and justice policy. By synthesizing diverse regional perspectives, the text establishes a framework for understanding the intersection of local criminal phenomena and broader continental shifts.

Experts recognize this collection as a foundational text for understanding the transnational dimensions of European crime. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a comprehensive resource for students and researchers of comparative criminology.