ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides a nuanced and critical understanding of some of the social influences that impact on risk of filicide; to examine the meaning of social and legal representations of the child, parent, family and state in the context of child killing; and to explore the interactions between the social and the law in this context. It suggests that child killing is a term that is culturally sensitive, particularly in certain cultures and periods of time where the practice was widespread and its criminality was less than clear. The book examines the theoretical conceptualisation of the meaning and applicability of a 'state of dysfunction'. It presents the case study data, which consists of six main case studies and analyses certain forms of violence that appear 'invisible' to state agents and surrounding actors in the conflict.
