3. Marxist Theories

Question 1

Marxism, class and crime

Answer 1

According to Marxism crime has 3 main elements:
-Criminogenic capitalism
-The state and law making
-Ideological functions of crime and law

Question 2

1. Criminogenic capitalism

Answer 2

-This means that ‘Capitalism breeds crime’
-By encouraging individuals to pursue self interest before everything else
-Encouraging individuals to be materialistic consumers, making us aspire to an unrealistic and often unattainable lifestyle
-Generating inequality and poverty, both conditions which are correlated with higher crime rates

Question 3

2. The state and law making

Answer 3

-Law making and enforcement serves the interests of the capital class
-Chambliss (1975)- laws to protect private property are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy
-Introduction of law into Britain’s East African colonies
-Ruling class have the power to prevent introduction of laws that would threaten their interests
-Snider (1993)- capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities of business or threaten their profitability

Question 4

Selective enforcement

Answer 4

-When it comes to application of the law by CJS there is selective enforcement
-WC and ethnic minorities criminalised, crimes of the powerful go ignored
-Because the state enforces the law selectively- crime appears to be a working class phenomena. Blames criminals rather than capitalism.

Question 5

3. Ideological functions of crime and law

Answer 5

-Laws are passed that may appear to be for the benefit of the working class but these often benefit the ruling class too. Pearce (1976)- these laws keep workers fit for work. Creates false consciousness amongst workers
-These laws are not rigorously enforced. Corporate homicide law 2007= in 8 years only one successful prosecution

Question 6

Evaluation of Marxism

Answer 6

-Largely ignores the relationship between crime and non-class inequalities
-Too deterministic, over predicts the amount of crime in the working class
-Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates
-Criminal justice system does sometimes act against the interests of the capital class
-Left realists argue that Marxism ignores intra-class crimes

Question 7

NEO-MARXISM

Answer 7

Critical criminology

Question 8

Taylor, Walton and Young (1973)- the new criminology

Answer 8

-Capitalist society is based on exploitation and class conflict, characterised by extreme inequalities of wealth and power
-The state makes and enforces laws in the interests of the capitalist class and criminalises members of the working class
-Capitalism should be rep,aced by a classless society
-Marxism is too deterministic. Taylor et al argues it is voluntarism. Crime is a meaningful action a conscious choice

Question 9

A fully social theory of deviance

Answer 9

In order to understand crime fully and change society for the better, a complete theory of deviance needs to unite six aspects:
1. The wider origins of the deviant act
2. The immediate origins of the deviant act
3. The act itself
4. The immediate origins of societal reaction
5. The wider origins of societal reaction
6. The effects of labelling

Question 10

Evaluation of Marxism and crime

Answer 10

-Feminists say Taylor et al’s approach is gender blind
-Left realists say it romanticises working class criminals. They are not Robin Hoods but usually prey on the poor.
-This type of crime is not take seriously by Taylor and it’s effects are ignored
- Hopkins Burke (2005) argues it is both too general to explain and too idealistic to be useful in tackling crime
-Stuart Hall - used Taylor et al’s approach to explain moral panics over
muggings in the 1970’s (Policing the Crisis - see ethnicity and crime)
-Taylor , Walton and Young have changed their views since The New
Criminology was published.