Critical criminology

Question 1

Criminality and Economic conditions - Bonger

Answer 1

Capitalism is criminogenic; it produces crime because it rewards egoistic behaviour.
Inequalities in capitalism creates opportunities, perpetrators and motives.

Question 2

Class, State and Crime - Quinney

Answer 2

The state is organised to serve the interests of the dominant classes.
Crime control is established through agencies and government elites.

Question 3

Gramsci and the Birmingham school

Answer 3

conducted a neo-marxist analysis of Thatchers Britain.
explored the use of moral panic that were used by the elite to win political support.
The influence of culture and media on public opinion shapes how people see the world.

Question 4

Policing the crisis - Stuart Hall

Answer 4

The police play a key role in upholding order, this order can be systematically prejudice and enables such views. E.g. racist police.

Question 5

Conflict theory

Answer 5

Chambliss - criminal behaviour is the inevitable outcome of a coercive and exploitative economic system. Crime diverts the lower classes away from the real problems of the elite.

Question 6

The impact of Marx

Answer 6

He was the starting point for students during the 60’s to create a new society.
People liked Marx because he wanted genuine change.

Question 7

Marxist theory of capital

Answer 7

Everything outside of the economy is known as the superstructure.
These can range from education, family and religion.
For Marx you need social equality to have radical change in economic equality.