The Philosopher’s Zone – Police abolition

Intro

In this episode of “The Philosopher’s Zone,” the concept of police abolition is explored. Host Valeri Vino delves into the history of policing, the role of white supremacy and property, and the arguments for creating alternative systems of community protection. The episode features writer and activist Geo Mar and lecturer Adam Elliott Cooper.

Main Takeaways

The Historical Context of Policing

• Proto-policing or police forces were developed to protect property and quell peasant rebellions.
• The emergence of wage labor and imperialism played a crucial role in policing oppressed people.
• Empire and capitalism are the long prehistory of the police.
• The US has a habit of describing the police as anchored in slavery and the London model, but this model is stripped of its colonial elements.
• Police in the northern US came from a professional model, while in the south, they emerged as slave catchers.
• The London model of force was militarized through colonial and imperial intervention and was used to design the professionalized police in the US.

The Role of White Supremacy and Property

• White supremacy and property are the two crucial parameters to bear in mind when discussing contemporary policing.
• Globally, police uphold property and whiteness on some level.

The Argument for Police Abolition

• The idea of abolishing police and prisons has serious intellectual weight behind it and has been advocated by Angela Davis.
• Angela Davis advocates for abolishing police and prisons in a society based on care, mutual aid, and solidarity.
• Creating a world where prisons are obsolete requires unlearning forms of patriarchy and racial hierarchy.
• Instead of tearing down police and prisons, we need to build alternatives that erode society’s reliance on them.

Alternatives to Policing

• The welfare state and wider forms of care in communities can provide alternatives to policing.
• Mutual aid exists in many communities where people support each other with things like disability or mental health problems.
• Many people choose to work for low wages in local community organizations that provide support for issues that police would otherwise be involved in.
• Abolishing the police does not mean replacing them with nothing, but actively constructing different alternatives for self-defense and community protection.
• Inclusive multiracial, multi-class self-defense community patrols have been successful in preventing harm without handing people over to the police.

Summary

The Historical Context of Policing

The development of police forces can be traced back to their role in protecting property and suppressing peasant rebellions. The emergence of wage labor and imperialism further solidified the policing of oppressed communities. The US has often framed its police system as rooted in slavery and the London model, but this portrayal overlooks the colonial elements. While the northern US adopted a professional model of policing, the southern states relied on slave catchers. The militarization of the London model through colonial intervention influenced the professionalization of police in the US.

The Role of White Supremacy and Property

White supremacy and the protection of property are integral aspects of contemporary policing worldwide. Police forces uphold and reinforce these parameters to varying degrees. Understanding the influence of white supremacy and property is crucial in analyzing and critiquing the current state of policing.

The Argument for Police Abolition

Advocates for police abolition, such as Angela Davis, argue for a society based on care, mutual aid, and solidarity. Abolishing police and prisons requires dismantling patriarchal and racial hierarchies. Rather than solely tearing down existing systems, the focus should be on building alternative structures that reduce society’s reliance on policing and incarceration.

Alternatives to Policing

The welfare state and community-based care initiatives can provide alternatives to traditional policing. Mutual aid networks exist in many communities, offering support for individuals facing challenges such as disability or mental health issues. Local community organizations staffed by individuals who choose to work for low wages can address issues that would typically involve the police. Constructing alternative forms of self-defense and community protection, such as inclusive multiracial and multi-class community patrols, has proven successful in preventing harm without resorting to police intervention.

Conclusion

The concept of police abolition challenges the current systems of policing by examining their historical context and the role of white supremacy and property. Advocates argue for constructing alternative structures rooted in care, mutual aid, and solidarity. By investing in community-based initiatives and reimagining the concept of safety, societies can work towards making police and prisons unnecessary. The process of abolition involves both dismantling oppressive institutions and building democratic alternatives that empower communities and reclaim resources.