Marcelo F. Aebi

Short Resume

Marcelo F. Aebi, Ph.D., is a Professor of Criminology at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. He oversees the Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics (SPACE) and serves as Executive Secretary of the European Society of Criminology. He specializes in comparative criminology and crime measurement. He leads the European Sourcebook of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics group, holds advisory roles on various scientific boards, and contributes to several criminology journals’ editorial boards. He studied at the Universities of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Lausanne, Switzerland, and has held professorships at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the University of Sevilla, Spain.

Title of the presentation

Comparative Criminology in Europe: Bridging Insights Between Western and Central/Eastern Regions

Abstract

In the evolving landscape of criminology in Europe, comparative research is essential for understanding the complex dynamics of crime and societal responses across diverse jurisdictions. This presentation underscores the importance of methodological rigour and the careful interpretation of cross-national data, particularly when comparing regions such as Western Europe with Central and Eastern Europe. While comparative criminology offers invaluable insights, it also presents significant challenges, especially in the standardization of crime definitions, data collection methods, and the varying economic and socio-political contexts across these regions. The presentation highlights disparities in crime recording practices and the influence of differing legal frameworks on the data collected, as well as their implications for criminal policies. The contrasts between Western and Central/Eastern Europe are particularly significant, as these regions exhibit distinct historical, cultural, and institutional influences that shape their approaches to crime and justice.

Keywords

comparative criminology, cross-national research, methodology, crime recording disparities, Eastern, Central and Western Europe