Theories of crime and deviance: left realism

Introduction to Left Realism

Left realism postulates that crime is largely a product of social inequality and deprivation.
Known proponents include Jock Young and John Lea who established the approach in the early 1980s.
According to left realists, societal changes such as economic marginalisation and an increase in relative deprivation provide the context in which crime occurs.

Key Concepts of Left Realism

Central to left realism is relative deprivation, where the perception of being deprived relative to others in society can lead to frustration which in turn can trigger crime.
Another key concept, the Square of Crime, considers the role and interrelationship of four components: the offender, the state (police and courts), the victim and the public.
Subcultures are another key focus for left realists, with crime often being seen as a collective response rather than lone acts of individuals.
They also introduce the concept of marginalisation, which suggests that societal marginalisation leads to feelings of resentment and results in criminal behaviour.

Policies Supported by Left Realists

Left realists endorse remedies aimed at tackling inequality and its root causes that contribute to crime, such as unemployment and poor education.
They advocate making the criminal justice system more democratic, for example, via local community involvement.
They also promote community policing, and the improvement of relationships between the police and the community, including marginalised groups.

Challenges to Left Realism

Critics contend that left realism over-emphasises ‘street crime’ while largely ignoring ‘white-collar’ and corporate crime.
It has been argued that left realism’s focus on the victim limits its understanding of those committing crimes, by placing them simply as offenders rather than acknowledging their complex roles including potentially being victims themselves.
Critics also point out that left realism’s focus on relative deprivation and marginalisation provides only a partial view of causes of crime, as it largely overlooks other potential factors, such as individual motivations or psychological factors.

Conclusion

Despite its limitations, left realism brings valuable perspectives to understanding crime and deviance, focusing on social inequality and deprivation as underlying causes.
It emphasises the need for practical solutions and prevention strategies at both societal and local community levels.
Its emphasis on victimisation, social justice, and involvement of marginalised groups in crime offers a more nuanced portrait of criminal behaviours and potential remedial interventions.