Criminal policy, populism, and welfare state

Several conditions concerning crime and justice during the studied period have contributed to the punitive trend. Additional changes have contributed to law and order taking a more central place on the political agenda. National politicians have lost power in relation to the EU and the global market and are focusing more on moral issues. Unemployment is high, and inequality and segregation are increasing, leading to frustration and a more distinct division between “us” and “them”. This perspective is reinforced by the fact that the focus in the crime debate is strongly on people with a foreign background. In a troubled and insecure situation, crime can be politically exploited by referring to public concern. However, the empirical evidence does not support this thesis of law and order “from below”. Rather, it is a matter of law and order “from above”. Crime policy does not become a means to reduce crime and increase security, which is the official goal of the policy but rather a means for political parties to gain government power.