left realist theories of crime

what do realists believe about crime?

it is a real problem rather than a social construction

how do realist theorists differ from others?

others fail to offer realistic solutions so they offer practical policies

what are left realist views?

• society is unequal and capitalist

• reformist

• explanations that lead to practical strategies

how do left realists criticise other theorists?

• marxists - neglects wc crime

• neo-marxists - romanticises wc crime as robin hood

• labelling - neglects real victims

what is an aetiological crisis?

a crisis in explanation

what do left realists believe the causes of crime are?

• relative deprivation

• subculture

• marginalisation

what is relative deprivation?

how deprived somebody feels in comparison to others or their own expectations

how does relative deprivation cause crime?

this & individualism encourage the pursuit of self-interest at the expense of others, disintegrating institutions

what is subculture as a cause of crime?

a group’s collective solution to relative deprivation

what is marginalisation?

marginalised groups lack clear goals & the organisations to represent their interests so resort to violence

how has late modernity caused crime?

instability, exclusion & insecurity have made crime worse

what is realtive deprivation downwards?

where the middle class resent the underclass for ‘living off welfare’

how has exclusion made crime worse?

• crime is nastier 0 hate crime

• public are more intolerant

• crime happens throughout the social structure

how has instability made crime worse?

• reactions to crime are changing

• less moral consensus

• informal control is less effective

what is young’s second aetiological crisis?

crime has fallen since the 90s so crime may no longer be a major threat but will continue to be seen as one

how is the rising anti-social behaviour rate a result of defining deviance up?

• blurring boundaries of crime

• creates crime - breaching ASBOS = criminal

• subjective definition of anti-social behaviour

• flexibility

how do left realists believe crime should be tackled?

• improve policing

• deal with the deeper causes of crime

how should policing be improved?

• public must get more involved - multi-agency approach

• stop military policing as it alienates communities - vicious circle

• police must be made accountable

how should the structural causes of crime be tackled?

• more tolerance of diversity

• deal with unequal opportunities

how has left realism influenced government policy?

• 1997-2010 New Labour

• intro of ASBOs

• tackled hate crime

• New Deal - unemployed youth, anti-truanting policies

what are the strengths of left realism?

• draws attention to the reality of street crime & its effects, especially with victims

what are the criticisms of left realism?

• Henry & Milovanovic - accepts authorities definition of crime being street crime instead of powerful groups harming the poor

• Marxists - fails to explain corporate crime

• interactionists - uses quantitative data so cannot explain motives

• assumes value consensus exists

• not everyone who experiences relative deprivation commits crime

• focuses on high-crime inner-city areas - unrepresentative & exaggerated