Left Realist view on crime

What is the left realists explanation of crime?

They argue it is a real problem, especially for w/c communities, as crime is linked to structural inequalities and the immediate social environment

• Structural inequalities include poverty, unemployment and inequalities beyond your control

What do left realists argue are the causes of crime?

• Marginalisation

• Relative poverty

• Subcultures

How does marginalisation increase the crime rate according to left realists?

Marginalised groups like the w/c and EMG’s endure police brutality and lack clear goals and organisation to form trade unions.

• Young argues that the unemployed youth are also marginalised, as they have a sense of resentment towards social agents of control, so they express that through criminal means.

• As a solution, politicians argue the police should take more of a standing in society, and influence community connections.

How does relative poverty lead to crime, according to left realists?

When somebody feels deprived in relation to others or compared with their own expectations, they commit crime

• It is worsened by the increase in individualisation, which causes a reduction in the integrations of family and communities. It undermines the values of mutual support and weakens the control upon individuals, so they turn to crime.

• Late-modern society is media-saturated, exposing consumerism and raises everybody’s expectations about standards of living.

How does subcultures lead to crime according to left realists?

Similar to Merton and Cohen’s perspective, left realists argue that the frustrations of not meeting the culturally approved goals

• However, contrasting to Merton and Cohen, left realists argue that some may turn to crime and some may not turn to it because they turn to religion for spiritual comfort.

• Criminal subcultures still strive for the values of materialism and consumerism, but their opportunities are blocked, so they turn to street crime

What are the counter-arguments to the causes of crime left realists argue?

Marginalisation and relative deprivation: Strongly compatible

• Both help to explain why some people turn to come when they experience exclusion

• Frustration is created and marginalisation leave people feeling little legitimate power

Marginalisation and subcultures: Mildly compatible

• Exclusion of young people from mainstream society develop subcultures that offer identity

• But, being marginalised doesn’t automatically mean that someone will join a subculture.