Mapping the Theory and the Conviction Rate Attractor

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of the theoretical framework developed and deployed in the book and explores a pivotal ‘attractor’ that emerged from the data: conviction rates. The first section, mapping the theory, advances the book’s theoretical framework through introducing key concepts in an accessible manner as possible. This enables diverse audiences, of varying levels of familiarity with the theory, to effectively engage with the book. The book’s concepts are drawn from the synthesis of Deleuze’s materialist philosophy of affect and sense, Deleuze and Guattari’s affective assemblage theory and complexity science and theory. The final section utilises the theoretical framework to explore barristers’ perspectives on the conviction rate for rape, which emerged as a key theme and ‘stable attractor’ in the data/assemblage. This enables us to bring the theory and data into conversation from the outset and lays the foundation for the following chapters.