Topic 13 - left realism theory crime Flashcards
criticisisms + traditional approaches to crime
Realism, emerging in the late 1980s, criticized qualitative crime research for overlooking crime’s societal costs and victims. Marxists focus on wealthy criminals but neglect working-class crime, while Neomarxists romanticize working-class crime as redistribution of wealth. Interactionists see criminals as victims but ignore the real victims (often the poor). Left realism, rooted in neo-Marxism, views crime as linked to inequality and advocates for social reforms to reduce crime. Right realism, aligned with conservative views, attributes crime to poorly socialized young working-class men, often black, and calls for punishment.
Left realism?
Left realism criticizes Marxist and interactionist views that dismiss official crime statistics, arguing they ignore the realities of crime and victimization. It highlights how fear of crime, like the fear of rape, restricts people’s freedoms, particularly women. While Neomarxists romanticize working-class crime, left realism views it as harmful to the poor, not heroic. Jock Young, a key figure in left realism, argued for gradual social change rather than revolution. He suggested practical solutions, such as improving street lighting to reduce violence and providing medically supervised drug access to reduce crime associated with addiction, requiring shifts in social attitudes and laws.
Principles of left realism?
Left realism assumes that crime is increasing, based on victim surveys, and is a growing societal issue. It critiques traditional theories for not fully explaining crime. Left realism emphasizes that the real victims are the disadvantaged, such as the poor, women, and migrants. It also highlights the growing fear of crime and reluctance to report it, which limits people’s lives. Crime is seen as multifactorial, caused by a combination of overlapping factors.
Relative deprivation?
Relative deprivation refers to feeling poor due to media-promoted goods that are unattainable for most people. Young argued that poverty alone isn’t the main cause of crime, as if it were, other poor groups, like the elderly, would commit more crimes.
Marginalisation?
Marginalization occurs when the poor and disadvantaged feel sidelined by society. Unemployment and lack of opportunities lead to frustration and boredom, prompting some to resort to rioting or violence as a way to express dissatisfaction and influence change.
Sub cultural membership?
Subcultural membership in working-class communities often involves anti-authority attitudes, particularly towards the police, in response to poor social conditions. For example, young West Indian men turned to Rastafarianism, using cannabis as a religious expression of their beliefs.
Aspects of crime?
Aspects of crime (Young, Lee, and Matthews, 1987) highlight four interacting factors:
The offender: Why people drift in and out of crime.
The victim: Determines if an act is seen as criminal; vulnerability may depend on social position or relationships.
The public: Media and public reactions influence crime, with fear of public response deterring criminal acts.
The state: Government creates laws, sets police budgets, and influences crime through policies.
Left realist solutions to the problem of crime
Left realist solutions to crime, influenced by Kinsy, Lee, and Young, focus on community-based strategies. Since the 1990s, policies like ASBOs, civil injunctions, criminal behaviour orders, and the appointment of police commissioners have been introduced to address crime. These strategies aim to provide practical solutions and shape policy-making.
Failures of policing?
Failures of policing (Kinsy, Lea, and Young) highlight that UK police effectiveness is low, with crime clear-up rates under 10%. Many resolved crimes are reported by the public, not detected by police, who are burdened with paperwork and routine tasks. Budget cuts, low public confidence, and perceptions of racism and sexism further harm police-community relations. The authors argue for less focus on young people and minor offenses, and more on policing violence and hate crimes, while improving community relationships and recruitment from diverse groups.
Tackling the causes of crime?
Tackling the causes of crime (Jock Young) involves reducing criminogenic areas, improving leisure and sports facilities for youth, enhancing housing and living standards for the poor, and addressing unemployment.
Assessments of new left realist theories of crime:
Acknowledges the position of victims and offers valid solutions to crime.
Combines various theories but is difficult to test empirically.
Criticized for not explaining why many in deprived areas don’t turn to crime (Steven Jones).
Feminists argue it overlooks how women are victimized, e.g., underrepresentation of domestic violence studies (Pat Carlen).
Recognizes the complexity of crime but may be too ambitious, as different crimes have different causes (Livesey).
Policy issues + left realism?
Policy Issues & Left Realism:
In 2005, Prime Minister Tony Blair launched the Respect Agenda to address antisocial behavior, influenced by left realism. The initiative, though short-lived, shaped political attitudes towards urban and antisocial issues, leading to laws and strategies such as ASBOs and family intervention projects.
