New Left RealismNew Left Realism

Jock YoungJock Young

John LeaJohn Lea

What is to be doneWhat is to be done about law & about law & order?order?

In their 1984 book, In their 1984 book, Jock Young and John Jock Young and John Lea are critical of Lea are critical of traditional Marxism traditional Marxism and New Criminologies, and New Criminologies, claiming that they claiming that they have idealistic views of have idealistic views of criminals and portray criminals and portray them as “political them as “political revolutionaries”.revolutionaries”.

They take what they They take what they see as a realistic see as a realistic approach to crime.approach to crime.

Key features of Lea and YoungKey features of Lea and Young

Crime is a serious problem and is getting worse. Crime is a serious problem and is getting worse. The victims of crime are often ignored and they The victims of crime are often ignored and they are often the very working class that Marxists are are often the very working class that Marxists are supposed to be concerned aboutsupposed to be concerned about

Street crime is growing and its not all down to Street crime is growing and its not all down to racism or labellingracism or labelling

Some urban areas are becoming increasingly Some urban areas are becoming increasingly dangerous, especially for womendangerous, especially for women

Official statistics on crime are broadly correct – Official statistics on crime are broadly correct – they are not social constructsthey are not social constructs

There is an ethnic dimension to crimeThere is an ethnic dimension to crime

How do Lea and Young explain the increase How do Lea and Young explain the increase in black street crime?in black street crime?

Relative deprivation – some will commit crime when Relative deprivation – some will commit crime when they feel deprived in comparison to others. The they feel deprived in comparison to others. The media stresses the importance of economic goods media stresses the importance of economic goods and some will turn to crime to acquire these goodsand some will turn to crime to acquire these goods

Subculture – subcultures or gangs are a shared Subculture – subcultures or gangs are a shared response to relative deprivationresponse to relative deprivation

Marginalisation – young black men are on the margin Marginalisation – young black men are on the margin (edge) of society and have no group such as trade (edge) of society and have no group such as trade union or pressure group to stand up for them. The union or pressure group to stand up for them. The resulting frustration, resentment and anger may lead resulting frustration, resentment and anger may lead to street crime. (link to strain theory?)to street crime. (link to strain theory?)

Evaluation of Left RealismEvaluation of Left Realism

StrengthsStrengths Focuses on the victims of Focuses on the victims of

crimecrime A balanced theory that A balanced theory that

neither demonises nor neither demonises nor glorifies the police or the glorifies the police or the statestate

Describes real problems Describes real problems around street crimearound street crime

Dependent on Sociological Dependent on Sociological concepts such as relative concepts such as relative deprivationdeprivation

Evaluation of Left RealismEvaluation of Left Realism

However left realism has However left realism has been criticisedbeen criticised

There has been little that’s There has been little that’s new about it – it can be new about it – it can be seen as a mixture of Strain seen as a mixture of Strain theory and subcultural theory and subcultural studiesstudies

Too much emphasis on Too much emphasis on street crime – what about street crime – what about white collar and corporate white collar and corporate crime?crime?

No reference to women and No reference to women and crimecrime

Question – How does Left Question – How does Left Realism differ from New Realism differ from New Criminology?Criminology?

Summary questionsSummary questions