Has anyone examined this specific form of conservative nostalgia that specifically focuses on crime?
Usually goes like “back in my day you didn’t need to lock your door when you left” and stuff like that. Which usually ranges from false (crime went down overall) to cartoonish (people are saying these things about 90s Russia, when the country was literally ruled by organized crime)
Many say it’s straight up racism, but it’s pervasive in relatively monoethnic countries too.
It may also be a rural/urban thing. Crime is higher in urban areas for reasons (unless you’re Singapore or something), but over time people move and also (at least in this country), most areas become more urban.
There may also be more awareness of crime (due to media), or alternatively, crime may be a lot higher in certain areas, while overall it has declined in the national average.