Decolonising the Traditions of Justice in Crete: Land, Harm and Repair in the Aóri (Perspectives on Crime, Law and Justice in the Global South)

Honour. Violence. Revenge. Words that have cut deep in the sphere of customary justice in the Mediterranean.The subjugation of local systems of justice as 'private justice' by a Eurocentric worldview has prevailed in scholarship, establishing a hegemonic understanding of customary law.Looking to restore the legacy of justice in Crete, this groundbreaking volume deviates from fabricated concept of customary law and provides an understanding of how justice traditions are predominately restorative, instead of vengeful. Through a zemiological lens, Koumentaki explores how native populations acknowledge criminality and work towards harm reduction for protecting their communities against hostility.Her focus on a mountain community in Crete reveals how a community can bypass formal penal legal processes in favour of their restorative justice practices.Moving beyond tired narratives of honour and revenge, Koumentaki reveals a sophisticated system of harm reduction, accountability, and communit