Community-centred security governance: from Cape Town to Oakland a story of Peace Committees

Presented by ANU College of Asia & the Pacific

The presentation considers a security governance possibility, born in the Global South, with implications for defunding police, decolonising security, and reimagining justice.

This presentation tells the story of the journey of Peace Committees, a restorative inspired, community-centred safety initiative that reimagines community policing. The journey begins with the 1994 South African elections, is supported by the Mandela and Mbeki governments, is brought to a halt by the Zuma government, and is currently entering a new phase in Oakland, California. It is a story with implications for the defund the police movement, calls to decolonialise security and justice, security budgets, and community-led governance.

About the speaker

Clifford Shearing is currently an Emeritus Professor at the Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies at the University of Toronto and at the Law Faculty at the University of Cape Town. He is a Visiting Professorial Fellow at the University of New South Wales, an Adjunct Professor at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University and a strategy advisor at ProActive Resolutions. He studies policing and its evolution. His current research is focused on the regulation of 21st Century harmscapes.

COVID protocols

The ANU strongly encourages you to keep a mask with you at all times (for use when COVID-19 safe behaviours are not practicable) and to be respectful of colleagues, students and visitors who may wish to continue to wear one. Please continue to practice good hygiene. If you are unwell, please stay home. The ACT government’s COVID Smart behaviours can be accessed here.

This seminar presentation is a dual-delivery event. Registration is only required for Zoom attendance; registration for in-person attendance is not required as neither the ANU nor ACT Health conduct contact tracing any longer.

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan please email regnet.communications@anu.edu.au.

Image credit: Image of handmade peace themed postcard with ‘peace’ in various languages by Stephanie on flickr free to use under CC BY-ND 2.0 DEED licence

More information about this event