Since 1991, the Dutch Society for Criminology (NVC) has awarded the Willem Nagelprijs biennially for the best dissertation in the field of criminology. Earlier this month, it was announced that Timo Peeters, PhD student at Erasmus School of Law, won the prestigious Willem Nagelprijs 2024 for his dissertation The Unseen: Withdrawal and the social order of violence in Guatemala City.
Peeters received the award during a plenary session of the NVC Congress, held on 6-7 June 2024. His dissertation is an in-depth field study in Guatemala City, where he conducted eight months of ethnographic research. He investigated how people shape their lives in a context of violence and inequality and what role social class plays in it. Peeters selected five groups for his case study - four families and a group of homeless people - each with different social statuses.
An innovative approach
According to the jury, Peeters' thesis is a clear and well-written work that is both empirically descriptive and theoretical in nature. It is distinguished by sharp analyses and a high degree of self-reflection. The field research shows the author's close involvement with his research groups and offers insights into the lifeworlds of people who face violence and injustice on a daily basis.
The central question of Peeters' thesis - how social order emerges in a society where violence prevails - goes to the heart of both sociology and criminology. His innovative approach offers an in-depth understanding of how violence arises and is dealt with from the perspective of those involved themselves.
A compelling and poignant story
The selection committee praised Peeters' work as a detailed and in-depth study that reveals the complex reality of Guatemala City. The jury praised his ability to make readers feel that they themselves were present at the situations studied. Peeters' literary style makes the thesis a compelling and penetrating narrative, which despite its heavy themes never becomes sensational or pathetic.
A potent counter to positivism
Peeters' research offers a powerful counter to the prevailing positivism in criminology, which often emphasises large numbers and statistics without regard for the human side. His work shows that an in-depth analysis of the everyday lives of ordinary people can also yield valuable knowledge. Peeters wrote his dissertation under the supervision of supervisors René van Swaaningen and Richard Staring, both Professor of Criminology at Erasmus School of Law.
As Peeters himself writes in his final chapter: "The work of a social scientist does not differ greatly from that of a novelist: it is to explore beyond the appearance of things." His thesis gives voice to the unseen and often forgotten people of Guatemala City, highlighting their strategies for survival in a violent and unequal society.
- PhD student