Left Realist theories - Crime

Question 1

• Began in the 90s as a reaction to Right Realism.
• Believe Marxism is unrealistic.
• They’re reformists, they want to improve capitalism not overthrow it.

Answer 1

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Question 2

Left Realists believe there is an aetological crisis

Answer 2

This means there is a crisis or failure in explanation for the theories of crime.

Question 3

Lea and Young (three causes of crime)

Answer 3

• Relative deprivation (how deprived someone feels in relation to others and their own expectations) = deprivation itself is not the cause of crime. In the 1930s, deprivation was high but crime was very low. This leads to a paradox, we have more things and are more affulent -> but we commit more crime and feel poorer.
• Marginalisation = E.g. ethnic minorities, youths, the unemployed - have no clear goals and no one to represent them in society.
• Subculture (Merton, A.K Cohen, Cloward and Ohlin) = crime is a response to blocked opportunities. Crime is a reaction to the failure to achieve mainstream goals. Criminal subculture equals a solution to relative deprivation.

Question 4

Young’s theory re-developed

Answer 4

• Re-developed in 2003 - in a late modern society where the media is saturated, everyone has access to a phone. This makes relative deprivation worse, which equals more crime.

Question 5

Lewis et al

Answer 5

London rioters looted the shops because they couldn’t afford stuff.

Question 6

Dealing with crime

Answer 6

• The police and public are separate and the public distrust the police. Left Realists say there needs to be a partnership between the public and the police.
• Use stereotypes most of the time to stop and search. Left Realists say they need to use information from the public.