Treadmill of Crime: A Political Economy of Environmental Disorganization and the Greening of Crime

This research examines the relationship between green criminology and political economic theories of ecological disorganization to advance the study of environmental crime. Specifically, this research suggests that green criminology can benefit by drawing upon the established theory of environmental disorganization, entitled treadmill of production (ToP), which was developed by Schnaiberg in the late 1970s. The purpose of this work is to describe ToP theory and organize green criminology according to three major components in that theory. First, we examine how ecological withdrawals can organize and advance green criminology. This section of the paper draws upon previous criminological research in the coal industry. Second, we examine how ecological additions, in the form of chemical pollution, can help to organize green criminology. Finally, we conclude by examining the concept of environmental justice within green criminology. As noted in the manuscript, criminologists have neglected issues of race and class when examining environmental crimes. Fortunately, treadmill of production theory offers unique insights into the connection between the political economy and environmental injustice.