Postmodernist Criminology Theories

• Theories of crime provide different explanations for why individuals commit criminal acts
• Realist theories offer pragmatic solutions to crime
• Postmodernist theories challenge conventional definitions of crime, highlighting the roles of power and individual identity in law-breaking

Realist Theories of Crime

• Realist theories of crime gained prominence in the 1980s
• Realist theories moved away from abstract theoretical debates
• Realist theories focused on practical strategies for reducing crime
• Realist theories acknowledge crime as a real issue that significantly impacts people's lives
• These theories aim to develop effective solutions

Left Realism

• Left Realism, is associated with Jock Young, Lea & Young (1984)
• Left Realism arose in in response to traditional Marxist and neo-Marxist perspectives
• Left Realism criticises earlier theories for failing to take crime seriously
• Earlier theories romanticised working-class criminals
• Left Realists argue that crime disproportionately affects the poor and deprived
• Left Realism requires pragmatic solutions

Key Concepts in Left Realism

• Crime arises when individuals feel deprived compared to others (Relative deprivation)
• Runciman (1966) suggested that frustration can lead to criminal behavior when people perceive themselves as unfairly disadvantaged
• Some groups, particularly the working class and ethnic minorities, feel politically and economically excluded from mainstream society (Marginalisation)
• This increases the likelihood of crime and social unrest
• Deviant subcultures emerge as collective responses to relative deprivation and marginalisation.
• Subcultures reinforce criminal behaviour as a norm.

Late Modernity and the 'Bulimic Society' (Young, 1999)

• In modern society, even the most disadvantaged are exposed to consumerist ideals through the media
• Economic exclusion means they cannot access these goods, leading to frustration, crime, and deviant behaviour
• Lewis et al. (2011) found that consumer desires played a role in the 2011 UK riots
• Young people looted stores to access items they could not afford

Left Realist Policy Solutions

• Community policing and improved relationships between the police and local communities are policy solutions
• Tackling economic inequality through better education, employment, and housing are policy solutions
• Restorative justice initiatives to rehabilitate offenders and support victims are policy solutions

Right Realism

• Right Realism is associated with Wilson, Herrnstein (1985), Murray (1989), and Clarke & Felson (1986)
• Right Realism adopts a tougher stance on crime.
• Right Realism sees criminal behaviour as a rational choice and prioritises crime prevention through control measures

Key Concepts in Right Realism

• Some individuals have biological predispositions towards criminal behaviour, including low intelligence and impulsivity
• Murray (1989) argued that a work-shy underclass, dependent on welfare, fosters criminality due to inadequate socialisation and absent father figures
• Cornish & Clarke (1986) suggest that individuals commit crime after weighing up the costs and benefits
• Wilson & Kelling (1982) argue that minor signs of disorder (e.g., graffiti, vandalism) lead to increased crime by signalling a lack of social control

Right Realist Policy Solutions

• Zero-tolerance policing to crack down on minor crimes is a strategy that can be used
• Stronger punishments to deter offenders can be imposed
• Reducing welfare dependency to encourage self-sufficiency is a policy solution

Postmodernist Theories of Crime

• Postmodernist perspectives challenge traditional criminological theories that argue that crime is a social construct that reflects outdated legal definitions
• Instead of seeing crime as objective, postmodernists focus on individual identity, power, and transgressive definitions of crime

Key Concepts in Postmodernist Criminology

• Postmodernists argue that crime is a subjective category shaped by those in power
• Traditional crime definitions fail to account for individual autonomy and cultural diversity
• Transgressive Criminology (Henry & Milovanovic, 1996) redefines crime as acts that cause harm rather than those that simply break the law
• Harms of Reduction include direct physical or emotional harm (e.g., violence, theft)
• Harms of Repression include restrictions on human development (e.g., discrimination, hate speech)

The Fragmentation of Social Structure

• Postmodernists argue that identity is fluid and not tied to social structures
• Crime is motivated by individual pleasure, emotion, and self-expression rather than structural factors

Edgework (Lyng, 1990, 2005)

• Crime can be thrilling, offering excitement through risk-taking
• Joyriding, vandalism, extreme sports are examples of alternative 'legal edgework.'

The Seductions of Crime (Katz, 1988)

• Some crimes are committed for the sheer pleasure of breaking social norms
• Hate crimes may be driven by emotional rewards like power or control