CRIME AND DEVIANCE TOPIC 3: CLASS, POWER AND CRIME Flashcards
in what way do MARXISTS agree with labelling theory?
- the law is enforced selectively (biased) to set up people (the w/c) to be penalised more harshly
in what way do MARXISTS criticise labelling theory?
-fails to explain why labelling is caused in the first place (due to power inbalances)
how do MARXISTS view capitalist society?
-capitalism is a root cause of crime
what is criminogenic capitalism?
-the nature of capitalism causes crime
-crime is inevitable in capitalism as it is the very thing that causes it =it’s based on the exploitation of the w/c, by exploiting them
what does GORDON say crime is?
Gordon (1976) - crime is a rational response to the capitalist system and hence it’s found in all social classes, despite officials statistics presenting as a w/c phenomenon
what are 3 ways in which capitalism may lead to w/c crime?
-SURVIVAL: there is a wealth-divide= leads to people needing to survive by stealing goods such as food or medication due to poverty
-MATERIALISM: can’t afford material goods= commit crime to gain access to what the m/c are privileged to have already.
-FRUSTRATION: capitalism creates power inequalities= use crime to vent their anger into something.
what is the state and use of law making? (CHAMBLISS)
-lawmaking and law enforcement serves only the interests of the capitalist class
-Chambliss (1975) suggests that laws which protect private property are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy
what is an example to explain the marxist view of the law?
-East African countries e.g. Kenya didn’t operate on a financial economy so the British introduced compulsory taxation-> the only way to pay was to work= exploitation of these workers
according to SNIDER, what laws is the state reluctant to pass?
-laws which restrict the policies of big businesses
what is selective enforcement?
-law applied to those who are lower-class in society
-while the powerless groups like the w/c and ethnic minorities are criminalised, the police and courts tend to ignore the crimes of m/c
according to PEARCE, why are some laws passed that seem to benefit the w/c?
-Pearce (1976) suggests they solely keep workers fit for work to benefit the ruling class, giving capitalism a ‘caring’ face and creating false consciousness among workers (tricking workers into thinking the system cares about them)
why are some laws rarely enforced?
- rarely enforced= using them would weaken the power of the m/c
-e.g. few businesses are prosecuted when a worker dies at work
what is the impact of selective law enforcement?
- divides and rules the population by making w/c people think that other w/c people are responsible for society’s problems
how do the media and criminologists contribute to the portrayal of criminals?
- criminal are just ‘disturbed individuals’= distracting from capitalism as a cause of crime
what are 5 criticisms of marxist theory?
- ignores non-class issues (gender inequalities/ethnicity issues)
- deterministic= not everyone commits crime as its only a minority)
-low crime rates in some capitalist societies
-criminal justice system does prosecute rich people
-crime is INTRA-CLASS (between 2 classes e.g. w/c and m/c)
(crimes like burglary and ‘mugging’ which cause harm to individuals)
NEO-MARXISM: what are 3 ways TAYLOR ET AL agree with marxists?
-capitalism is a source of inequality and conflict
-the state makes laws which benefit the powerful
-In a classless society there would be less crime
NEO-MARXISM: according to TAYLOR ET AL, in what way is marxism deterministic?
-it assumes people are driven to commit crime by external factors linked to capitalism so thus ignores other factors
according to NEO-MARXISTS what is a voluntaristic view?
-people make a conscious choice to commit a particular offence
what are 2 main sources of a full social theory of deviance?
- traditional marxism
-interactionism and labelling theory
what are the 6 aspects of a fully social theory of deviance?
1) understand how wealth is distributed
2) consider particular circumstances that can influence the individual
3) consider the deviant act itself (why did they do it?)
4) understand why wider society react to what happens e.g. gun violence
5) understand who has the power to make a difference (ppl w/ power to enforce law)
6) understand the impact of labelling the individual a “criminal” and society are influenced
according to REIMAN AND LEIGHTON how are crimes committed by higher classes treated in comparison to ‘street crimes’ ?
-when wealthy ppl are less likely to be punished but street crimes get punished frequently and harshly
according to SUNDERLAND what is white collar crime?
-crime committed by a person of responsibility and high status
what are the differences between occupational crime and corporate crime?
- occupational: individuals benefit from committing the crime e.g. embezzlement
-corporate: employees commit offences to make company gains
what’s an example of something which can be harmful but doesn’t break the law?
-administrative offences e.g. using loopholes to avoid tax
