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Challenges of Late Modernity, Religion, Homophobia and Crime: Police and Criminal Justice Reform in Jamaica and Uganda

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Religion, Faith and Crime

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Abstract

This chapter, first, explores a number of issues around sexuality that have import for former colonial countries in efforts to modernise their criminal justice system. These concerns are rooted in a history of struggle for political independence and new post-colonial realities which have transformed many developing nations and reflect contemporary priorities. Second, the chapter elucidates how the relationship of premodern and late-modern beliefs around same-sex relationships highlights the challenges for those advocating for legal reform. Third, the chapter explores these issues through case studies of Jamaica and Uganda given their involvement in controversies which has significance for other developing countries (Smith 2014), due to the current status of homophobia (Altman 1996). As a result Jamaica and Uganda have been dubbed the most homophobic countries in the world (Stanislas 2013; Smith ibid.). The role of religious sentiment in contributing to particular worldviews has resulted in resistance to legal equality for same-sex relationships on the one hand, and supportive attitudes on the other which will be explored. Finally, broader contextual factors in these countries will be interrogated to advance understanding as to why homophobia became a point of concern at the time it did and the various outcomes of these controversies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. De Montfort University, Leicester, UK

    Perry Stanislas

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  1. Perry Stanislas
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Applied Social Sciences, De Montfort University, LE1 9BH, United Kingdom

    Kim Sadique

  2. School of Applied Social Sciences, De Montfort University, LE1 9BH, United Kingdom

    Perry Stanislas

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Stanislas, P. (2016). Challenges of Late Modernity, Religion, Homophobia and Crime: Police and Criminal Justice Reform in Jamaica and Uganda. In: Sadique, K., Stanislas, P. (eds) Religion, Faith and Crime. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-45620-5_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-45620-5_8

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-45619-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-45620-5

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