This book explores the issue of legitimate criminalization in a modern,
liberal society. It argues that criminalization, as one of the most
intrusive state interventions into the autonomous sphere of the
individual, should be limited by normative principles, defining the
substance of what can be legitimately proscribed. Coverage provides a
comparative study between two major criminal legal systems and its
theories: the Anglo-American, on one side, and the Continental criminal
legal system of Germanic legal circle, on the other. In addition, the
book offers a model structure of the ideal criminalization in respect of
the principles and other criteria that should be followed to render the
outcome justifiable. Legal scholars interested in criminology, criminal
law and legal philosophy will greatly value this book.