Crime and Deviance: Traditional Marxist theories of Crime and Deviance: Flashcards
How can crime and deviance be understood by Marxists?
In terms of capitalism and the class struggle.
What is crime?
Criminogenic.
What is the crime and capitalism loop that Marxists argue occurs?
Capitalism =
Greed, competition and self seeking behaviour =
Division between rich and poor =
Inequality =
Injustice, envy and frustration between bourgeoisie and proletariat =
Deviant and criminal behaviour.
Why is capitalism criminogenic?
It creates greed and competition between individuals. Working class are more collectivist thus they don’t succeed. This creates social division.
How does the cycle of inequality occur?
Capitalism becomes permanent as society is not meritocratic thus it becomes deeply ingrained in society.
According to the Marxists what does the State and their law creation act as?
It acts as an ISA (Althusser).
What does Manheim argue?
That the law protects private property and therefore protects the wealth and profit of the rich/ ruling class.
Argued that criminal law is in alliance between corporate business’ and that state.
What did Snider argue about the State and Law?
Argued the ruling class have the power to influence the law. They can therefore prevent any laws that would reduce their power and wealth. He argued it’s a great ISA.
What is an example of Manheim differential law creation?
MP’s expenses scandal; 7 MP’s were sent to prison for using taxpayers money for individual gain whereas a lot of working class people get sent to prison for benefit fraud; using money to live.
What is the ideological function of inequality in law creation and enforcement?
Demonisation of the working class. Used to create value system and false class consciousness. Creates moral panics around their crime and deviance.
What term did Snider create that described the process of an upper class person being arrested for criminal activity?
Smokescreen of Justice.
What does the Smokescreen of Justice mean?
That the justice system gives the false impression that both the crimes of the ruling elite and working class are taken seriously and punished equally. When in fact it’s overwhelmingly the working class who are punished for crime.
When does the Smokescreen of Justice occur?
When a person of the ruling elite is arrested from criminal activity and it is exaggerated in the media and to the other classes - the Marxists argue these arrests are trivial and do not alter the social standing in anyway but just keep us under the FCC.
What is selective enforcement?
Where criminal persecution is only enforced with the working classes. E.g. Tax avoidance and tax evasion.
