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Why do gangs emerge, where do they endure, and how do they evolve?

Bringing together an international group of scholars, this edited volume offers a broad comparative perspective on gangs as dynamic social and criminal formations shaped by history, inequality, migration, urbanization, technological change, and globalization. Moving beyond narrow or region-specific understandings, the book situates gang activity within wider cultural, political, and economic contexts while acknowledging the distinct conditions that give rise to gangs in different parts of the world.
The collection is organized around five interconnected themes: conceptual and theoretical foundations, the social dimensions of gang identity, regional perspectives, specialized gang types, and policy responses. Chapters address enduring questions about youth involvement, violence, gender, and community relations while also considering the ways gangs adapt to changing environments and opportunities. Regional coverage spans Latin America, Eastern Europe and Russia, East and South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Africa, Oceania, and the Caribbean, highlighting both local variations and shared patterns. Additional discussions of prison gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs broaden the volume's scope, while the concluding chapters consider contemporary approaches to prevention, policing, and intervention alongside emerging trends likely to shape the future of gang activity.
By linking theory, comparative scholarship, and practical concerns, this volume provides an understanding of gangs as both products of local conditions and participants in wider transnational networks, offering readers a strong foundation for interpreting one of the most persistent and evolving challenges confronting communities around the world.