Left Realism Flashcards
What do left realists like Lea and Young aim to explain?
Street crime committed by black and white youth in urban areas
According to Lea and Young’s victim survey, which groups have a realistic fear of street crime?
Working class and black people, especially elderly women
Often reported as victims of such crime
How do left realists differ from Marxists in their view of society?
Left realists are reformists who believe in gradual social change
What do left realists aim to develop to address crime?
Explanations of crime grounded in real experience leading to practical strategies
What is one criticism that left realists have of other crime theories?
They don’t take the problem of street crime committed by young people in the inner city seriously
What do left realists argue about the labeling theory?
It sees working class young criminals as victims of discriminatory labeling
What do Lea and Young acknowledge about police racism?
Institutional racism probably exists in the police force
Who do Lea and Young suggest commits most crime in some areas of London?
Young working-class males and Young African-Caribbeans
What do left realists think about the focus of traditional Marxists?
They overemphasize the role of the powerful in crime
Poor mainly suffer at the hands of young working class criminals
What is the left realist perspective on white collar and corporate crime?
It is under detected and under punished but does not impact ordinary people’s lives as street crime does
How do left realists view the increase in crime in recent years?
As a real increase, not just a social construction
What are the three key concepts in Lea and Young’s explanation of crime?
- Relative deprivation
- Marginalization
- Subcultures
What does ‘relative deprivation’ refer to?
Feelings of deprivation in relation to others or one’s own expectations
Can lead to resentment = crime
Why do Lea and Young believe crime rates have increased?
Prosperity within society today yet crime ridden: increased awareness of relative deprivation due to media and advertising
African-carribean youth compare itself with white youth regarding life chances and opportunites
What role does individualism play in crime according to left realists?
When combined with relative deprivation, it can lead to crime: It encourages the pursuit of self-interest at the expense of others
What is a consequence of increasing individualism in society?
Disintegration of families and communities
Weakens informal control over individuals = increased anti-social behaviour, aggression and crime
How do left realists describe marginalisation?
Young people feel they have little or no power to change their situation = frustration and anger
Reinforced by negative treatment from authority = confrontation with authority and mainstream society
What do some marginalized young people look to form as a coping mechanism?
Subcultures
Feelings of relative deprivation and marginalisation often result from blocked opportunities (Merton) and status frustration (Cohen)
What are criminal or deviant subcultures responses?
A form of innovation that the black youth may react and adapt by becoming involved in criminal activities
What are the two solutions to problems listed by left realists?
- Improve policing and control
- Deal with the structural issues
What should policing focus on according to left realists?
Improving relationships with local communities and accountability
Disconnect between police and communties due to their use of military style policing and lack of focus on more severe crimes (racist attacks and DV)
What do Lea and Young argue is necessary for crime reduction?
Assistance from local communities
Police need to regain confidence of local communities so people feel comfortable providing info on crime
What is the main cause of crime according to left realists?
Unequal organization of society regarding wealth, income, and opportunity
Lea and Young argue crime can only be reduced or eliminated by improving people opportunities to achieve a decent standard of living
What influences did left realists have on the Labour government’s crime approach?
Between 1997-2010
* Tougher policing on crimes affecting vulnerable groups
* Introduction of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs)
