Left Realism Theory, Essay Example

Left Realism is a theory of contemporary or social conflict. It explains crime as being connected to social class and social control. It sees crime as a product of the hierarchy and social class that the society is tiered into (Young 1992) Left Realism Theory affects mainly the working class people and its solutions only make the crime problems worse. Its roots, how it evolved and current social implications are important to know in understanding this theory. Other writers argue that crime is the product of a badly organized social state (Dostoyevsky 1866). So it could be said that this way of thinking had simmered over time only for it to be publicly pronounced in the 80s.

The realism theory began 1984 in work by John Lea and Jock Young. The two authors first advanced the idea when they wrote on what ought to be done on law and order, the two authors fronted the argument that the poor are victimized twice over both and worse still by the street criminals and the social order that neither affords them the comfort to protect themselves through abusing the power gained by being a ruling elite. This is enhanced by the fact that the poor have no financial means to protect themselves against the severe punishment that they mete on them, while at the same time the victim is abused by the ruling class (Young J 1990).

Left Realism has evolved over time with the three concepts. Young present three concepts of Left Realism. The first one is demarginalization that n argues for the use of alternatives to prison sentences like restitution and community service. The second option is the use of preemptive deterrence where community efforts are used to deter crime using interventions such as community watch programs and community policing. Finally is the use of imprisonment where the cases involve very dangerous criminals who become a threat to the existence of the society. In the case of the most extremely dangerous criminals that pose a threat to a community imprisonment is the option exploited (Young 1999)

Left Realism has manifested current social implications in the areas job creation, Inequality of the society, political incompetence social fear and failure, gender conflict, and family and parenting.  Left realism has also changed our society by creating fearful citizens and isolated citizens because of discrimination; this is discrimination that is informed by gender, race or social class.  Economic globalization has also changed the manner in which jobs and wealth are created and lost (Young 1999)

The realities of social realism and the options set by Young were meant to alleviate the suffering of the poor masses in the hands of the elite and the rich in the society. The use of alternatives to combat crime giving all due regard to the degree of offence committed while at the same time allowing them the option to live in a cohesive community is a better idea as opposed to using punitive sentences and jail terms to control crime. This also affords the community an opportunity to rehabilitate and endear these people to the society thereby changing their social lives for the better. The social process should be aimed at improving people in the society not creating criminals and outcast who are condemned and unwanted.

References

Fyodor Dostoevsky (1886). Crime and punishment. St Petersburg: Russian Messenger.

Young, J and Matthews, R (eds) (1992) Rethinking Criminology: The Realist Debate London: Sage.

Young J,  (1999) The Exclusive Society: Social Exclusion, Crime and Disorder in Late Modernity  London: Sage.