Key arguments of New Right theorists

New Right theorists propose that crime and deviance are concentrated in a distinct social group that rejects mainstream values. This leads to a cycle of criminal behaviour passed down through generations.

The concept of the underclass

• The underclass refers to a subculture of long-term unemployed people who are seen as highly deviant and immoral.
• According to Murray and Marsland, members of this group commit most crimes and live in 'problem families' on inner-city council estates.
• These families allegedly socialise children into criminal behaviour and dependency on state benefits, creating a self-perpetuating cycle.
• Murray specifically claims that in the USA, this underclass is predominantly Black, highlighting ethnic dimensions in his analysis.

Role of family structure in deviance

• Many underclass families are headed by single mothers, resulting in children lacking a stable father figure.
• Without positive male role models, young people are influenced by negative examples, such as older boys in territorial street gangs.
• These gangs engage in activities like drug dealing, violence, and inner-city riots, which New Right theorists see as evidence of deviant socialisation.

Causes of the underclass according to the New Right

New Right thinkers attribute the growth of the underclass to external factors that erode personal responsibility. This explanation focuses on how state policies create dependency rather than encouraging self-reliance.

Impact of the welfare state

• The welfare state is identified as the primary cause of the underclass's expansion over the past several decades.
• Marsland argues that generous state benefits undermine the incentive to work, promoting idleness and welfare dependency, especially among young people.

Evaluations and criticisms of New Right views

While New Right perspectives have shaped debates on crime, they face significant challenges from other sociological approaches. These critiques question the evidence base and potential social consequences of the theory.

Lack of empirical evidence

• There is no convincing empirical evidence to support the existence of a distinct criminal underclass with unique deviant values and behaviours.
• Survey data often shows that people in poverty hold similar values to the wider population, challenging the idea of a separate subculture.

Criticisms from labelling theory

• Labelling theorists criticise New Right sociologists, such as Murray, for scapegoating poorer and long-term unemployed groups.
• This labelling can lead to negative surveillance and harsh treatment by the state, reinforcing deviance rather than addressing root causes.
• As a result, New Right views may stigmatise vulnerable populations without addressing broader social issues.

Alternative views from Weberian sociologists

Some sociologists accept elements of the underclass concept but reject its association with inherent deviance. This provides a more structural explanation for poverty and crime.

Agreement and disagreement with the New Right

• Weberian sociologists like John Rex and Sally Tomlinson agree that an underclass exists, consisting of disadvantaged groups facing persistent poverty.
• However, they disagree that this group forms a deviant subculture committed to crime.
• Instead, Rex and Tomlinson argue that underclass members share mainstream values, and their poverty results from external factors beyond their control.

Factors causing poverty in the underclass:

• Economic recession
• Globalisation
• Government policies