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Neo-MarxismNeo-Marxism

Critical CriminologyCritical Criminology

Taylor, Walton and YoungTaylor, Walton and Young

These three agreed with traditional These three agreed with traditional Marxists about many aspects.Marxists about many aspects.

However they thought that However they thought that traditional Marxism ignored the idea traditional Marxism ignored the idea that individuals have free will to that individuals have free will to decide how they act.decide how they act.

So they argued that crime often has So they argued that crime often has a a political motive.political motive.

A fully social theory of A fully social theory of deviancedeviance

Traditional Marxist Traditional Marxist ideas about the ideas about the unequal unequal distribution in distribution in wealth and who wealth and who has power to make has power to make and enforce the and enforce the lawlaw

Interactionism and Interactionism and labelling theory labelling theory about the meaning about the meaning of the act, the of the act, the societal reaction societal reaction and the effects of and the effects of the deviant label.the deviant label.

1. The wider origins 1. The wider origins of the deviant actof the deviant act

2. The immediate 2. The immediate origins of the deviant origins of the deviant

actact

3. The act itself and 3. The act itself and its meaning for the its meaning for the

actoractor

4. The immediate 4. The immediate origins of social origins of social

reactionreaction

5. The wider origins 5. The wider origins of social reactionof social reaction

6. The effects of 6. The effects of labellinglabelling

Do each of these points owe Do each of these points owe more to traditional Marxism of more to traditional Marxism of

labelling theory?labelling theory? 1. The wider origins 1. The wider origins

of the deviant actof the deviant act

2. The immediate 2. The immediate origins of the origins of the deviant actdeviant act

3. The act itself 3. The act itself and its meaning for and its meaning for the actorthe actor

4. The immediate 4. The immediate origins of social origins of social reaction reaction

5. The wider origins 5. The wider origins of social reactionof social reaction

6. The effects of 6. The effects of labellinglabelling

EvaluationEvaluation

It is gender blind.It is gender blind. It romanticises working-class criminals It romanticises working-class criminals

as Robin Hoods.as Robin Hoods. They ignore the effects of crime on They ignore the effects of crime on

working class people.working class people.

Young took some of these criticisms Young took some of these criticisms and abandoned it in favour of Left and abandoned it in favour of Left Realism.Realism.

Watch the following clip, try and Watch the following clip, try and explain the crime by using each of explain the crime by using each of the following theoriesthe following theories– LombrosoLombroso– FunctionalismFunctionalism– Sub-Cultural TheorySub-Cultural Theory– Labelling TheoryLabelling Theory– MarxismMarxism

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=OFr7NnK-91U=OFr7NnK-91U

Realist TheoriesRealist Theories

See crime as a real problem to be See crime as a real problem to be tackledtackled

Argue there has been a significant rise Argue there has been a significant rise in crime rate – especially street crime.in crime rate – especially street crime.

Are concerned about the widespread Are concerned about the widespread fear of crime and impact of crime on its fear of crime and impact of crime on its victimsvictims

Other theories fail to offer Other theories fail to offer realistic realistic solutionssolutions to the problem of crime. to the problem of crime.

We can divide realist We can divide realist approaches along political approaches along political

lines…lines…

Left Left RealistsRealists

Right Right RealistsRealists

Right RealismRight Realism

Emerged in the 1970s and 1980s Emerged in the 1970s and 1980s with the political shift to the right with the political shift to the right

Margaret Thatcher

Ronald Reagan

Right RealismRight Realism

These governments These governments favoured rolling favoured rolling back the welfare back the welfare state together with state together with a strong a strong commitment to law commitment to law and order.and order.

They favoured a ‘get tough’ stance on crime, with increased use of prison (and in the USA, the death penalty) and a ‘short, sharp shock’ approach to dealing with young offenders.

James WilsonJames Wilson ““We can’t truly We can’t truly

explain the causes explain the causes of crime but we can of crime but we can control crime rates.”control crime rates.”

““Getting rid of Getting rid of poverty will not get poverty will not get rid of crime.”rid of crime.”

Broken window Broken window thesisthesis

Right Realism – Causes of Right Realism – Causes of CrimeCrime

1. Biological Differences1. Biological Differences

2. Socialisaton and the 2. Socialisaton and the UnderclassUnderclass

Primary Primary Socialisaton Socialisaton teaches us self teaches us self control, we control, we internalise moral internalise moral values of right and values of right and wrong. The best wrong. The best place for this is the place for this is the nuclear family.nuclear family.

2. Socialisation and the 2. Socialisation and the UnderclassUnderclass

3. Rational Choice Theory3. Rational Choice Theory

So what methods do So what methods do you think Right you think Right

Realists advocate in Realists advocate in tackling crime?tackling crime?

Left RealismLeft Realism

Jock Young – now where have we Jock Young – now where have we heard that name before????heard that name before????

Realised he needed to take crime Realised he needed to take crime seriously. After all most victims of seriously. After all most victims of crime where the working class.crime where the working class.

Response to the influence of right Response to the influence of right realism on government policyrealism on government policy

In response to MarxismIn response to Marxism

““We need practical strategies We need practical strategies for reducing crime in the here for reducing crime in the here and now, rather than waiting and now, rather than waiting

for a revolution and a for a revolution and a classless socialist utopia to classless socialist utopia to

abolish crime.”abolish crime.”

Taking crime seriouslyTaking crime seriously

Left realists recognise that there has Left realists recognise that there has been a real increase in crime rates.been a real increase in crime rates.

Disadvantaged groups have the Disadvantaged groups have the greatest fear of crime and it has the greatest fear of crime and it has the greatest effect on their lives.greatest effect on their lives.

The best way to reduce crime is to The best way to reduce crime is to reduce the causes of crime.reduce the causes of crime.

Left Realism - Young The causes of crimeThe causes of crime

Relative DeprivationRelative Deprivation

SubcultureSubculture

MarginalisationMarginalisation

Relative Deprivation

Subculture Marginalisation

So what methods do So what methods do you think Left Realists you think Left Realists advocate in tackling advocate in tackling

crime?crime?