Moral Crusades in an Age of Mistrust — The Jimmy Savile Scandal

Moral Crusades in an Age of Mistrust examines the sociological meaning of the sudden transformation of Jimmy Savile, the cultural icon, into the personification of evil. The epidemic of scandals unleashed by the Savile Scandal highlights the precarious status of relations of trust. The rapid escalation of this crisis offers insights into the relationship between anxieties about childhood and the wider moral order. This exploration of the emergence of a moral crusade explains why western society has become so uncomfortable with the exercise of authority.

This is a work of public sociology that seeks to explore the social dimensions of a cultural drama as it unfolds. Through situating this scandal in a wider historical perspective this study outlines the distinctive feature of a 21st century moral crusade.

Frank Furedi, author and broadcaster, is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent, UK. He has written widely on the culture of fear. His work deals with the impact of fear on discussions of childhood, health, new technology and food, and investigates the interaction between risk consciousness and perceptions of fear and trust relations in contemporary society.