Covid-19 and Asian Criminology: Uncertainty, Complexity, and the Responsibility of AJOC Amidst Eventful Times

Abstract

The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic is unquestionably one of the most influential worldwide events to occur in recent history. As of January 2021, the global infections surpassed 100 million, and more than 2 million lives were killed by the virus (WHO 2021). The magnitude of the pandemic—the shutdowns and disruptions permeating individuals’ everyday life, institutional routines, and global governance—is calling for social scientists worldwide to think deeply about basic questions of social order and social change. Likewise, Asian criminologists are no exception. The AJOC has always been committed to advancing the study of criminology and criminal justice in Asian contexts (Liu 2009). Now, it is high time to keep that commitment and contribute an Asian understanding of the consequences of the pandemic in criminology and criminal justice. Therefore, we organized this Covid-19 special issue.