3. 1. Neo-Marxism Flashcards
Criticism of traditional Marxism
Traditional Marxists are too deterministic - no one is forced to commit crime
What do they believe w/c crime is a form of?
A form of a symbolic political act of resistance to ruling class oppression
What are w/c criminals seen as?
Robin Hood Figures, taking forms of political action against inequality in power and wealth
Who developed the new criminology?
Taylor et al
What gives a fully social theory of deviance according to Taylor et al?
A blend of the labelling theory and Marxism
Who used the new criminology in their study of muggings in the 1970s and what was the conclusion?
Hall et al used it
Concluded that crime was used to reassert the dominance of ruling class hegemony (widespread acceptance of norms) at a time that it was under threat.
People’s attention was diverted away from wider structural problems and onto muggings, scapegoating young black people and creating a moral panic
What makes white-collar and corporate crime dwarf the everyday crimes committed by w/c offenders?
The amounts of money involved and the human misery arising as a consequence
Who developed the distinctions between white-collar and corporate crimes? What are the distinctions?
Croall developed the distinctions
White-collar) m/c individuals who abuse their work positions for personal gain at the expense of the company (E.g. bribery and fraud)
Corporate) offences committed by large companies which directly benefit the company
6 types of corporate crime developed by Slapper and Tombs
Paper work and non-compliance (correct licence/permit not obtained)
Environmental crimes
Manufacturing offences (E.g. false advertising)
Labour law violations (crime against staff)
Unfair trade practices (E.g. going against fair trade)
Financial offences (E.g. tax evasion)
6 reasons for under-representation of white-collar and corporate crime:
- hidden…
- who’s the victim?
- investigation
- who’s benefitting
- victimisation
- stereotypes
Hidden from view and hard to detect
Often without individual victims
Hard to investigate
Police and companies may both benefit
Victim may lack awareness that they are being scammed
Due to judges holding stereotypes that crime is mainly w/c, offenders have better chance of being found not guilty
Left realist explanation for white-collar and corporate crime
M/C individuals may have a sense of relative deprivation
Control theory explanation for white-collar and corporate crime
Individuals who carry out crime for benefit of companies are driven by socialisation and conformity into aggressive management cultures
Differential association explanation for white-collar and corporate crime
If people associate with others who support illegal practices, they are more likely to engage in such practices
Labelling theory explanation for white-collar and corporate crime
Avoidance of these acts gaining a label of ‘criminal’ encourages further crimes
Postmodernist explanation for white-collar and corporate crime
Crime can be a part of thrill-seeking behaviour
