Treadmill of crime: How a political economy of ecological disorganization can contribute to the greening of crime

This research examines political economic theories of the environment to advance the study of green criminology. Specifically, we suggest that green criminology can benefit by drawing upon the established theory of ecological disorganization, entitled treadmill of production (ToP), which was developed by Schnaiberg in the late 1970s. The purpose of this research is to describe ToP theory and organize green criminology according to the major components of that theory. We explore how ecological withdrawals and additions can help organize green criminology and emphasize the political economy of ecological disorganization. We conclude by examining the concept of environmental justice within green criminology and argue that criminologists have largely neglected issues of race and class when examining environmental crimes. Fortunately, ToP theory offers unique insights into the connection between the political economy and environmental injustice.