1.4 - Left And Right Realism

Question 1

How do right realists explain crime? EG - decision making…

Answer 1

• Rational choice (crime is a rational choice eg punishment vs reward)

Question 2

What’s broken window thesis?

Answer 2

WILSON
Arrears with low levels of social control people are more likely to think that they can get away with things eg graffiti or Broken windows

Question 3

What does Charles Murray say causes crime?

Answer 3

The underclass cause crime due to poor socialisation. Due to an over generous welfare state creating a welfare dependency. Eg a rise in single parent families, so less nuclear families which leads to poor socialisation
This is also argued but TONY SEWELL

Question 4

What policies do right realists promote in order to prevent crime?

Answer 4

• tougher on crime eg, harsher sentences, tougher prisons, - punishment and deterrent
• SHORT, SHARP, SHOCK (young working class boys mainly)
• EXAMPLE - TENT CITY PRISON
• 3 strike systems (third one you go to prison for a much longer time)

These all aim to outweighs the benefits of crime

• make divorce harder
• encourage the nuclear family
• reduce welfare spending (no benefits)
• graffiti hotline (reducing graffiti instantly to keep area looking nice)
• clean car programme in the subway

Question 5

What do left realist argue cause crime?

Answer 5

1. Relative deprivation
2. Marginalisation
3. Subculture

Question 6

How have relative deprivation and marginalisation increased?

Answer 6

Decrease in employment
Growth in zero hours contracts
Loss in steady income

Question 7

What would left realists argue help these factors causing crime?

Answer 7

• Redistributive policies (tax the rich, healthcare, education, housing)
• increase in jobs
• youth clubs
  PERRY PRE - SCHOOL PROJECT

Question 8

What was the perry pre school project?

Answer 8

• 50 young children would be given a high level of pre school eductaion and inertaction, 20 years later
  They had a high gear employment rate and lower prison than other people in their areas so reduced the Crime.

This was shown to very successful

However - not implemented, as it doesn’t show the results quickly and the government might change

Question 9

How would other theories going to evaluate realists theories?

Answer 9

• SUBCULTURE, STRAIN THEORY - disagree with rational choice theory
• MARXISTS - you cannot get rid of crime unless you get rid of capitalism / doesn’t focus on state crime or green crime
• SYMBOLIC INTERNATIONALISM - only focuses on the official statistics and this id due to typifications (negotiations of justice)