Cultural Analysis of Capital Punishment Can not assume that death penalty and criminal law is above all about reducing crime What else does the death penalty do? Crime is not a natural category, but is historical The ways in which we respond to crime are not given once and for all but are historical Penal punishment is therefore open to cultural analysIs Is it an expressive form of action?Cultural Analysis of Capital Punishment • Can not assume that death penalty and criminal law is above all about reducing crime • What else does the death penalty do? • Crime is not a natural category, but is historical. – The ways in which we respond to crime are not given once and for all but are historical • Penal punishment is therefore open to cultural analysis. • Is it an expressive form of action?