3. Marxist Theories Flashcards
Classical Marxism and Crime
Marxists agree with labelling theorists that the law is enforced disproportionately against the w/c, therefore, the official crime statistics can’t be taken at face value.
However, criticises labelling theory for failing to examine the wider structure of capitalism within which law making and offending take place.
Marxists see capitalist society as divided into 2 classes
The ruling capitalist class (bourgeoisie) - who owns the means of production
The working class (proletariat) - whose alienated labour the bourgeoisie exploit to produce profit
3 elements of Marxist views of crime - 1. Criminogenic Capitalism
Crime is inevitable in capitalism is criminogenic - by its very nature it causes crime.
Capitalism based on the exploitation of the w/c - that is, on using them as a means to an end (profit), whatever the human cost.
This is damaging to the w/c and according to Marxists this may give rise to crime:
- Poverty may mean that crime is the only way the w/c can survive
- Crime may be the only way they can obtain the consumer goods encouraged by capitalist advertising, resulting in utilitarian crimes such as theft
- Alienation and lack of control over their lives may lead to frustration and aggression, resulting in non-utilitarian crimes such as violence and vandalism
Gordon
Argues crime is a rational response to the capitalist system and hence it is found in all social classes - even though the OS make it appear to be a largely w/c phenomenon
3 elements of Marxist views of crime - 2. The state and law making - Chambliss
Marxists see law making and law enforcement as only serving the interests of the capitalist class
Chambliss - argues that laws to protect private property are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy.
He illustrates this with introduction of English laws into British East African colonies. To force the reluctant African population to work for them (plantations), the British introduced a tax payable in cash, non-payment of which was a punishable offence.
Since cash to pay could only be earned by working on the plantations, the law served the economic interests of the capitalist plantation owners.
The ruling class also have the power to prevent the introduction of laws that would threaten their interests.
Snider
Argues that the capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities of businesses or threaten their profitability.
Selective enforcement
Although all classes commit crime, Marxists agree with labelling theorists when it comes to the application of the law by the CJS, there is selective enforcement. While powerless groups (w/c MEGs) are criminalised, the police and courts tend to ignore the crimes of the powerful.
Evaluation of Marxism
- It largely ignores the relationship between crime and non-class inequalities such as ethnicity and gender
- It is too deterministic and over-predicts the amount of crime in the w/c: not all people commit crime, despite the pressures of poverty.
- Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates, e.g., the homicide rate in Japan and Switzerland is only about a fifth of that in the US
- The CJS does sometimes act against the interests of the capitalist class. E.g., prosecutions for corporate crime do occur
- Left realists argue that Marxism ignores intra-class crimes (both criminal and victims are w/c) which causes great harm to victims.
Neo-Marxism - (Critical Criminology)
Neo-Marxism is a new form of Marxism; they seek to develop theories which look at the individual as well as structural factors.
Traditional Marxists simply look at external social laws (capitalism) as governing all social action.
Neo-Marxists however combine approaches from Interactionists and New Left Realists.
3 ways neo-Marxists are similar to traditional Marxists
- Capital society is based on exploitation and class conflict and characterised by extreme inequalities of wealth and power. Understanding this is the key to understanding crime
- The state makes and enforces the law in the interests of the capitalist class and criminalises members of the w/c
- Capitalism should be replaced by a classless society. This would greatly reduce the extent of crime or even rid society of crime entirely.
Hall (1979) - Policing the crisis
During the post war period, immigration was encouraged due to labour shortages. Many ethnic minority communities developed. Racism was always a problem and many groups were treated with suspicion and dislike.
In the 1970s, economic problems arose and unemployment increased. Black unemployment was twice the national average.
Turning to crime was a way to cope with this but the black crime was exaggerated and amplified through the media and police tactics.
Gilroy (1982) - The myth of black criminality
Gilroy denies that black people are more likely to commit crime than other ethnic groups.
He argues that a negative (often racist) stereotype exists within the structure of society which leads to labelling and therefore selective military policing of black groups.
The reaction from the police, the public and the media therefore make black groups give meaning to their situation and withdraw from mainstream society - this then fuels suspicious attitudes and the cycle continues.
Evaluation of critical criminology
- Feminists criticise it for being ‘gender blind’, focussing excessively on male criminality and at the expense of female criminality.
- Burke (2005) - argues that critical criminology is both too general to explain crime and too idealistic to be useful un tackling crime.
2 Left Realists criticisms of critical criminology
- Critical criminology romanticises w/c criminals as ‘Robin Hoods’ who are fighting capitalism by re-distributing wealth from the rich to the poor. However in reality these criminals mostly prey on the poor
- Taylor et al do not take such crime seriously and they ignore its effects on w/c victims
White-collar crime
White-collar crime is that committed by m/c individuals who abuse their work positions for personal gain, at the expense of employers, the government or clients.
