Left realism

• left realism

  . Crime is seen as class conflict in an advanced industrial society, leading to practical strategies for reducing crime.
• Aetiological crisis- Young (2011)


  from the 1950s on, there was an increase in crime, especially WC crime. This led to a crisis between theories as to whether or not this increase was simply increase reporting or real change.
• Left Realist's three main causes of crime

  1- relative deprivation

  2- subcultures

  3- marginalisation
• Relative deprivation as a cause of crime


  Lea and Young: individualism encourages pursuit of self-interest leading to crime when the WC feels deprived in relation to others, leading to resentment
• Subcultures as a cause of crime


  criminal subcultures subscribe to mainstream values and goals but their opportunities are blocked so turn to crime as a collective solution to relative deprivation
• marginalisation as a cause of crime


  unemployed youth are pushed to the fringes of society so don't have clear goals and organisations, so express frustration through crime.
• defining deviance up (Young)


  focus on challenging crimes such as anti-social behaviour which actually creates new crime and new criminals and creates a subjective definition of crime
• New Rights approach to crime


  tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime

  attempting to reverse exclusions of people at risk of offending

  criticised for ignoring underlying causes such as inequality