C&D- NEO-MARXIST THEORIES ON CRIME Flashcards
Neo-Marxist are also
Critical Criminologists split into:
Left Realists 1980s-Lea and Young
-Critical Criminology (AKA Left Idealism)
1970sTaylor, Walton and Young
Young-Same sociologist, he changed his mind about the theory he created with Taylor and Walton and created a new theory on crime with Lea.
Neo-Marxism: What do Neo-Marxists believe about capitalist society?
Capitalist society is based on exploitation and class conflict (wealth and power). The state makes and enforces laws that help the capitalist system, and capitalism should be replaced by a classless society.
Neo-Marxism: How does Neo-Marxism relate to traditional Marxism?
Neo-Marxists share the view that capitalist society is based on exploitation and class conflict, and social inequality causes crime. They combine these ideas with labelling theory. The state makes and enforces laws to benefit the powerful ruling class and criminalizes the working class.
Neo-Marxism: How do Neo-Marxists differ from traditional Marxists?
Neo-Marxists, like Taylor, Walton, and Young, criticize traditional Marxism for being deterministic, arguing that capitalism doesn’t simply cause crime due to economic necessity. They take a voluntaristic approach, believing crime is a conscious, deliberate action.
Neo-Marxism: Who commits crime according to Taylor, Walton, and Young?
They argue that the working class is politically motivated and commits utilitarian crime to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor. Crime is seen as a pro-revolutionary action, similar to modern-day Robin Hoods.
Neo-Marxism: Why do people commit crime, according to Taylor, Walton, and Young?
Crime is a conscious choice by the working class to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor.
Neo-Marxism: Is crime positive or negative, and for whom?
Taylor et al. view crime as positive because it is pro-revolutionary and threatens the interests of the ruling class, rather than being a problem for society as a whole.
Neo-Marxism: What is the evaluation of Neo-Marxism?
Critics argue Neo-Marxism is gender-blind, romanticizes working-class criminals, ignores the effects of crime on victims, and overlooks intra-class crime. Burke claims that their positive view of crime doesn’t help reduce crime rates. Not all crime is politically motivated.
Neo-Marxism: What is the Fully Social Theory of Deviance
Taylor et al. argue that to fully understand crime, six aspects need to be considered:
1- The wider origins of the deviant act.
2- The immediate origins of the deviant act.
3- The act itself and its meaning to the deviant.
4- The immediate origins of social reaction (e.g., police, family).
5- The wider origins of reactions to deviance (e.g., law creation, media responses).
6- The effect of the social reaction on deviants (e.g., labelling theory and the self-fulfilling prophecy).
Left Realism: How does Left Realism compare to traditional Marxism and New Criminology?
Left Realists, like traditional Marxists, view capitalist society as based on inequality. However, they are reformists and believe crime can be addressed through legal changes rather than revolution.
Left Realism: How does Left Realism differ from traditional Marxism and New Criminology?
Left Realists do not see criminals as revolutionary heroes, unlike New Criminologists. They focus on real, practical solutions to crime rather than waiting for a revolution, and criticize labelling theory for ignoring the real victims of crime.
Left Realism: Who commits crime and what types of crime are committed?
Left Realists believe it is the working class that commits crime, explaining both utilitarian and non-utilitarian crimes.
Left Realism: Why do people commit crime?
Lea and Young argue that relative deprivation, not material deprivation, causes crime. The feeling of lacking something in comparison to others leads to crime. Media and advertising raise expectations, and individualism increases, leading to crime as people pursue personal goals at the expense of others.
Left Realism: What is the role of subcultures in crime?
Subcultures offer solutions to relative deprivation, including through crime or religious comfort. Blocked opportunities lead to subcultures, with utilitarian crimes often linked to materialism and other crimes related to spiritual or social fulfilment.
Left Realism: What is marginalisation in Left Realism?
Marginalised groups, like unemployed youth, lack representation and resort to non-utilitarian crimes (e.g., violence) to express frustration with society.
