3. Marxism Flashcards
Do Marxists support or reject OS on crime?
Reject them as they lack validity and are a social construction
How are crime statistics biassed according to Marxists?
They are biassed due to the under-representation of white-collar crime and selective law enforcement
Fundamental Marxist view of crime statistics
They don’t provide accurate picture of the social distribution of criminality
Criminogenic
System, situation or place that’s likely to cause criminal behaviour
Capitalism is criminogenic. What does this mean?
The very nature of capitalism generates crime
What leads people to crime in capitalist society?
The emphasis on material goals and competition leads people to criminality in order to gain wealth
Why is capitalist particularly damaging to the w/c? (3)
Poverty and unemployment experienced by w/c may result in increased engagement in criminal behaviour
Theft may be only way of allowing them to access consumer goods that are promoted by society
Alienation and lack of control over their lives may lead to non-Ultradian crimes
What is what counts as crime/deviance based on?
What counts as crime/deviance is based on the subjective decision making of the powerful
Most laws created by the state are for the benefit of…
The ruling class
Snider’s take on the state and criminal law
State is often reluctant to enforce laws which regulate large capitalist businesses which may threaten their profitability
What does Pearce state about laws implemented to appear to benefit w/c?
Pearce - many laws which appear to benefit only the w/c on reality only benefit the ruling class (E.g. factory legislation protecting health and safety on reality keeps workers fit and loyal to employers)
Public view of who commits crime
Although white-collar crime is more widespread and serious than w/c crime, this is not the view of the general public
Reasons for the misconception that w/c crime is more widespread and serious than white-collar crime (3)
Selective law enforcement creates belief that crime in a w/c problem
Criminalisation of w/c directs society’s attention away from real causes of crime
Businesses and large corporations are occasionally prosecuted to maintain myth that corporate crime is low and that the law is applied equally
Positive evaluation of Marxism on crime (2)
Offers explanation for origin of crime
Recognises the role of power
Negative evaluation of Marxism on crime: May get the real cause of crime wrong
Falsely assumes that communism will eradicate crime (evidence of crime in USSR)
Research to say that capitalism decreases crime (E.g. law crime rates in Switzerland)
