Book Review: Genetics and the politics of security: A social science perspective by J. Vailly

• Published date: 01 December 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/10575677241265360
• Author: Aulia Dwi Ramadhanti
• Date: 01 December 2024
• Subject Matter: Book Reviews

police culture and focusing on the specif‌ic actors, networks, and technologies that delineate policing

practices, Rowe advocates for a more nuanced and actionable approach to law enforcement reform.

He contends that by unpacking the “black box”of police culture, stakeholders can identify leverage

points for change, ultimately fostering more effective, equitable, and accountable policing. This

includes a critical look at legal and regulatory reforms necessary for meaningful change.

Overall, this book is an indispensable read for anyone interested in policing, criminal justice

reform, and the dynamics of public service professions. Through its diligent research, insightful anal-

ysis, and compelling narrative, Rowe’s work signif‌icantly advances the understanding of law

enforcement in contemporary society. It challenges readers to look beyond clichéd notions of

police culture and consider all the factors inf‌luencing policing. In doing so, Mike Rowe’s work

enriches the academic discourse and provides practical insights for policymakers, practitioners,

and advocates aiming to effect positive change within the policing profession. In the end, the

reviewer would like to express gratitude to the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education Agency

(LPDP), the Ministry of Finance, Republic of Indonesia, for supporting this article through a scholar-

ship program.

Funding

The author disclosed receipt of the following f‌inancial support for the research, authorship, and/or

publication of this article: This work was supported by the Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan,

(grant number 0003286/TRP/M/TM-AF-2022).

ORCID iD

Annisa Salsabila https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2055-2703

Vailly, J. (2024).

Genetics and the politics of security: A social science perspective. London and New York: Routledge. 208 pp.$35.99,

ISBN: 9781032588889.

Reviewed by: Aulia Dwi Ramadhanti ,Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

DOI: 10.1177/10575677241265360

Genetics and the Politics of Security: A Social Science Perspective, by Joëlle Vailly, provides an

in-depth exploration of the intersection between genetic technologies and security measures

within criminal justice systems across various countries. The book meticulously examines the use

of genetic databases in law enforcement, addressing the complex social, ethical, and policy implica-

tions that arise from integrating genetic information into policing practices. Using a comparative

approach, Vailly studies practices in countries such as France, the United States, the United

Kingdom, China, and the Netherlands. She reveals the transformative impact of genetic prof‌iling

on concepts of identity, privacy, and individual rights. This exploration is particularly relevant to aca-

demic discussions on organized crime, terrorism, and the relationship between crime, public policy,

and technological advancements, making this work a signif‌icant contribution to the f‌ields of crimi-

nology and criminal justice.

The book’s structure, divided into three parts, facilitates a comprehensive analysis of the subject.

The introductory section, “Identity and Prof‌iling in the 21st Century,”sets the thematic stage for the

subsequent discussion. Part 1, “Police Rationales and Attitudes Toward Genetic Databases,”includes

chapters that explore the extension of suspicion through genetic prof‌iling and the resistance

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