May the Force be with Space Criminology:On Space Criminology’s “deviant knowledge,” demonization, and rebellion

This editorial introduction to the special issue for the Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Criminology on Space Criminology frames the emergent field as a crucial critical, theoretical, and philosophical engagement with crime, policing, governance, and ethical challenges beyond Earth. Using Star Wars metaphors, it addresses the field’s early struggles with ridicule, mainstreaming, and epistemic gatekeeping. Moreover, it emphasizes how hope, trust, and speculative inquiry could function as scopes and tools for resisting entrenched power within mainstream criminology, also because they enable imaginative and collaborative criminologies. Finally, an overview of the special issue contributions is provided that altogether illustrate Space Criminology’s forte in collectively and diversely advancing conceptually imaginative horizons of Space Criminology while maintaining a critical and reflective dialogue.