By Robert Vargas, Lauren Hagani, and Gabriel Rojas∗

This article synthesizes emerging research on the political economy of policing, conceptualized through a Gramscian framework that examines policing as an inter-institutional structure shaped by economic, political, and ideological forces. We review research on relations between police and (a) social services, (b) private firms, (c) philanthropy, and (d) academia, highlighting how each sector plays a role in legitimating or sustaining police power. By situating policing within a Gramscian political economy, we provide a framework for understanding how police functions extend beyond law enforcement into the management of social order, wealth extraction, and ideological control.We conclude by discussing future directions for research and strategies for intervening in these power relations.

Annu. Rev. Law Soc. Sci. 2025. 21:489–507