Overview

Question 1

Realism

Answer 1

We can divide realist approaches along the political lines of right & left realism. These approaches to crime have very different views, but all realists:
▪ See crime as a real problem to be tackled, & not just a social construction created by the control agencies (as labelling theory & critical criminology suggest).

▪ Argue that there has been a significant rise in the crime rate – especially in street crime, burglary & assault.

▪ Are concerned about the widespread fear of crime & about the impact of crime on its victims.

▪ Argue that other theories have failed to offer realistic solutions to the problem of crime & they propose what they regard as practical policies to reduce it.

Question 2

Right Realism

Answer 2

Right realism sees crime, especially street crime, as a real & growing problem that destroys communities, undermines social cohesion & threatens society’s work ethic. The right realist approach to crime has been very influential in the UK, the USA & elsewhere.

Right realism reflects the US & UK conservative governments’ tough
stance towards offenders & their view that the best way to reduce crime was through control & punishment, rather than rehabilitating
offenders or tackling causes of crime such as poverty.
Right realists criticise other theories for failing to offer any practical
solutions to the problem of rising crime.

They also regard theories
such as labelling & critical criminology (neo-Marxism) as too sympathetic to the criminal & too hostile to the forces of law &
order.

Question 3

Left Realism

Answer 3

Left realism has developed since the 1980s as a response to two main factors:
▪ The need to take the rising crime rate seriously & to produce practical
solutions.
▪ The influence of right realism on government policy.

Like Marxists, left realists see society as an unequal capitalist one. However, unlike Marxists, left realists are reformist rather than revolutionary socialists: they believe in gradual social change rather than the violent overthrow of capitalism as the way to achieve greater equality.

Left realists argue that more people are reporting crime because more people are actually falling victim to crime. As evidence, they cite the findings of victim surveys such as the nationwide British Crime Survey. Local victim surveys show that disadvantaged groups have a greater risk of becoming victims, especially of burglary, street crime & violence. Therefore, disadvantaged groups have a greater fear of crime & it has a greater effect on their lives